The Messiness of Making Knowledge
Knowledge creation involves debates and conflicts over facts, which are often hidden in textbooks. Wikipedia's Talk tab provides transparency into this negotiation process.
THE IDEA
The Messiness of Making Knowledge
Making knowledge is messy. Interpretations conflict. Scholars argue about which facts to include and which to downplay—even whether a statement is a fact. Textbooks often hide these debates and serve up just the conclusions, delivered in neat little bundles. But Wikipedia’s transparency gives us a peek into how the sausage of knowledge is made. You might not have noticed the tab hiding in plain sight next to Wikipedia’s “Article” tab, the “Talk” tab. When you click on “Talk,” you enter a raucous world of knowledge negotiation in which Wikipedians hash out challenges to an article, discuss new evidence, and deliberate if a change is warranted. All these discussions (some of which get out of hand and have to be curtailed by top-level Wikipedians) are conducted in public view. All you have to do is click, and you’re into the middle of a knowledge party. It’s Wikipedia’s commitment to transparency and a great way to peek behind the curtains of how knowledge is haggled over and agreed upon.
Figure 7.11 Article on atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with Wikipedia’s “Talk” tab highlighted (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki)
When to use it
When researching a controversial topic, explore the Talk tab to understand the range of perspectives and evidence considered.
Use the Talk tab to evaluate the reliability of a Wikipedia article by examining the depth of discussion and resolution of disputes.
In educational settings, have students analyze a Talk page to learn about the social construction of knowledge.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Wikipedia's Talk Tab
The Talk tab next to the Article tab reveals discussions among editors about content disputes, evidence, and changes. For example, the Talk page for the article on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki contains debates about historical accuracy and representation.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How does viewing the Talk tab of a Wikipedia article change your perception of the knowledge presented in the article?
What does the existence of the Talk tab reveal about the nature of facts and objectivity?
Can you identify other sources of information that hide the messy process of knowledge creation?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Verified How to Think Straight, Get Duped Less, and Make Better Decisions about What to Believe Online (Mike Caulfield, Sam Wineburg)