Wiki principle

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The wiki principle describes functional and psychosocial features that are characteristic of the use of wiki software. The wiki principle is characterized by added value compared to the pure function of the wiki software. This added value is created by the mutual influence of content and communication ( stigmergy ). The Wiki principle thus fulfills all the essential characteristics of a cultural technique .

software

Typical wiki software essentially consists of the options to edit, save and link. These changes can also be made by users without administrator rights , which distinguishes wikis from most content on the Internet. Because of its close association with the open source movement, most wiki software is open source.

Further characteristics are the uncomplicated, non- hierarchical page structure and simple navigation . All versions of an article as well as the discussion running in parallel are saved so that the history of an article can be traced.

Moskaliuk distinguishes 5 functional principles that are closely linked to the wiki software as a tool:

  1. Without the need for additional software, it is possible to edit quickly and easily with the help of a browser.
  2. Pages can be linked to one another using simple so-called wiki links.
  3. There is no hierarchical hypertext structure: Individual pages are not linked to one another linearly, but rather via cross-references.
  4. Text changes ( versioning and currentness) are logged. The history of a text can be called up.
  5. The focus is on the collaborative product. The texts can be edited by different editors.

features

The ability to change content in an uncomplicated manner creates numerous opportunities for joint work ( collaborative writing ) - the entirety of these options is known as the “wiki principle”.

The wiki principle includes writing and correcting voluntarily and free of charge, as well as the option of being able to carry out all work anonymously or with a pseudonym of your choice. This fundamental characteristic - every reader is given the opportunity to act anonymously as an author, co-author or proofreader - offers the individual user self-determination over the content created and at the same time results in the "added value" specified above.

This individual self-determination (for the individual) automatically creates a heterogeneity of content for a group of wiki users . If this heterogeneity is regulated by the user group itself, one speaks of a self-directed wiki .

If a wiki only has a small user group, the heterogeneity can be largely avoided. In order to reduce the heterogeneity (for small user groups), a rigid structure for storing content must be established. This type of content creation is called an externally controlled wiki .

A typical feature of the wiki principle is stigmergy (concept or description of how communication in a decentralized system naturally leads to coordination). The individual users of a wiki do not communicate directly, but only indirectly with each other by changing the wiki content. What has been created together becomes, as it were, general instructions for how to proceed with its creation. Stigmergy can be compared to a termite mound: an individual leaves the germ of an idea (for example the beginning of an article in Wikipedia ), which in turn attracts other users. Building on an inconspicuous beginning, the initial concept is gradually developed into a complex structure of interlinked content, without the need for direct contact between the processors, i.e. H. Complexity can also arise through indirect coordination or indirect collaboration .

“One knows a lot, two know more and everyone knows everything. Wikipedia calls this the wiki principle. "

- Eric A. Leuer : Wikipedia and fluid forms of knowledge

The content of a self-controlled wiki is created through the individual contributions of the users. The possibilities of being able to change the contents of each other, creating a momentum for content creation. The new content is always different from the content of each individual user. This creates a competitive situation.

Depending on how the wiki user deals with this situation, this competition can have a constructive or destructive effect.

The content of self-controlled wikis is always dynamic content because it is constantly changing. This dynamic offers advantages (e.g. topicality), but also disadvantages (e.g. vandalism). An evaluation of the content must take this dynamic into account.

The " wisdom of the many " favors a high quality of the content (of a wiki), but only under certain conditions such as:

  • clear rules for content creation;
  • differentiated power structure to protect the content;
  • Securing diversity.

literature

  • Bastian Pelka: The Wiki principle in practice: theory, application, instructions. Der Andere Verlag, Tönning / Lübeck / Marburg 2008, ISBN 978-3-89959-724-0
    This manual is the result of a seminar at the Institute for Journalism and Communication Research (IJK) at the Hanover University of Music and Drama in the 2007 summer semester ( PDF ).
  • Norbert Schulz-Bruhdoel, Michael Bechtel: Media work 2.0: Cross-media solutions. The practical book for PR and journalism of tomorrow. 2nd Edition. Frankfurter Allgemeine, Frankfurt am Main 2011, ISBN 978-3-89981-257-2 .
  • Marius Beyersdorff: Who defines knowledge? Knowledge negotiation processes for controversially discussed topics in Wikipedia. Lit, Münster 2011 (preview) .
  • Beat Döbeli Honegger, Michele Notari: The Wiki Principle. In this. (Ed.): The Wiki Way of Learning. Design and support of learning processes with digital collaboration tools. Hep, Bern 2013, pp. 20-39, ISBN 978-3-0355-0023-3 ( PDF , HTML ).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Johannes Moskaliuk: The Wiki Principle. (PDF; 136 kB) Construction and communication of knowledge with wikis. Theory and practice. (No longer available online.) Verlag Werner Hülsbusch, pp. 2ff , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; Retrieved July 31, 2012 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.lmz-bw.de
  2. ↑ See the systematically used term "stub" in the English language Wikipedia.
  3. ↑ Peter Miller: Smart Swarm . Collins, 2011, ISBN 978-0-00-738297-2 , p. 133.
  4. ↑ Eric A. Leuer, “I know a lot, but I want to know everything!” - On Wikipedia and fluid forms of knowledge , GRIN Verlag, 2009, ISBN 978-3-640-45771-7 .