I agree that the privileging of secondary sources over primary sources by Wikipedia is, in many cases, just ridiculous. Look at how the myths about psychology have been passed down in intro psych texts because everyone quoted each other instead of going back to the primary source. So, according to Wikipedia, the incorrect secondary source is all you need to know. Note how this policy also privileges pop psych which is normally published in the format of widely available books over scientific psychology which is largely published in peer-reviewed journals.
This really gives me pause about having my students participate in the APS Wikipedia project. Maybe sciences like Psychology need to start their own publicly available wikis that will privilege primary sources above secondary ones. You shouldn't have to be an expert or a scientist to participate, just someone who is interested in bringing the best available evidence to bear on the question. And certainly such a science wiki is much more likely to tolerate theoretical differences and realize that some of these questions will be very sticky and are not yet at a place where there is a clean resolution. Rick Dr. Rick Froman, Chair Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Professor of Psychology Box 3055 John Brown University 2000 W. University Siloam Springs, AR 72761 [email protected] (479)524-7295 http://bit.ly/DrFroman -----Original Message----- Marc Carter wrote: But I teach my students don't believe what you read: look at the references and go to the original literature. But this scares me: if the students can't get links to some original literature, then what I've been teaching them is worthless.... Reckon I'll spend a little more time on the difference between primary and secondary sources. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=16068 or send a blank email to leave-16068-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
