Wikipedia:Scientific point of view: Difference between revisions

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{{guidance essay|interprets=the [[WP:NPOV|neutral point of view]] policy|shortcut=WP:SPOV}}
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{{nutshell|Scientific topics should be described using information from peer reviewed scientific sources with high [[impact factor]]s; while significant minority views expressed in peer reviewed scientific articles can be included with a proper [[WP:Weight|weight]], such views cannot be included if these are only found in non-scientific sources}}

Readers of scientific articles and articles mentioning scientific topics expect to find information that describes the topic in a way that is consistent with the existing scientific knowledge. To make sure this is indeed the case, editors are instructed not to engage in [[WP:NOR|original research]], but instead to write articles using information from peer reviewed scientific sources, preferring those with high [[impact factor]]s. The impact factor (IF) of an academic journal is a measure reflecting the average number of citations to recent articles published in that journal. It is frequently used as a proxy for the relative importance of a journal within its field, with journals with higher impact factors deemed to be more important than those with lower ones.

It is allowed to use information from sources other than peer reviewed literature, if such information is known to be consistent with current accepted scientific knowledge. Examples include textbooks, mainstream popular science magazines with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy, preprints written by scientists with a good publication record, and personal websites or blogs of such scientists. Such sources can be considered [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] for a scientific article, if editors agree that what is found in them is consistent with existing scientific knowledge.

==Consistency with [[WP:Neutral point of view]]==
This scientific point of view for science articles is consistent with the [[WP:Neutral point of view|neutral point of view]] policy. For a scientific topic to be presented in a neutral way requires one to stick to the scientific point of view as described in this essay. When there are widely held views that are inconsistent with the scientific point of view, then that can merit inclusion in a section of the article or in another article that is specifically about the non-scientific aspects of the topic.
==See also==
*[[Wikipedia:Academic bias]] (essay)
*[[Wikipedia:Fringe theories]] (guideline)
*[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia is a mainstream encyclopedia]] (essay)
*[[Wikipedia:Why Wikipedia cannot claim the Earth is not flat]] (essay)
*[[User:Guy Macon/Yes. We are biased.]] (user essay)
*[[User:Ed Poor/Flat earth problem]] (user essay)
[[Category:Wikipedia neutral point of view]]

Latest revision as of 19:14, 7 May 2019

Readers of scientific articles and articles mentioning scientific topics expect to find information that describes the topic in a way that is consistent with the existing scientific knowledge. To make sure this is indeed the case, editors are instructed not to engage in original research, but instead to write articles using information from peer reviewed scientific sources, preferring those with high impact factors. The impact factor (IF) of an academic journal is a measure reflecting the average number of citations to recent articles published in that journal. It is frequently used as a proxy for the relative importance of a journal within its field, with journals with higher impact factors deemed to be more important than those with lower ones.

It is allowed to use information from sources other than peer reviewed literature, if such information is known to be consistent with current accepted scientific knowledge. Examples include textbooks, mainstream popular science magazines with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy, preprints written by scientists with a good publication record, and personal websites or blogs of such scientists. Such sources can be considered reliable sources for a scientific article, if editors agree that what is found in them is consistent with existing scientific knowledge.

Consistency with WP:Neutral point of view[edit]

This scientific point of view for science articles is consistent with the neutral point of view policy. For a scientific topic to be presented in a neutral way requires one to stick to the scientific point of view as described in this essay. When there are widely held views that are inconsistent with the scientific point of view, then that can merit inclusion in a section of the article or in another article that is specifically about the non-scientific aspects of the topic.

See also[edit]