The Most Controversial Topics in Wikipedia: A Multilingual and Geographical Analysis

Taha Yasseri, Anselm Spoerri, Mark Graham, Janos Kertesz

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

We present, visualize and analyse the similarities and differences between the controversial topics related to “edit wars” identified in 10 different language versions of Wikipedia. After a brief review of the related work we describe the methods developed to locate, measure, and categorize the controversial topics in the different languages. Visualizations of the degree of overlap between the top 100 lists of most controversial articles in different languages and the content related to geographical locations will be presented. We discuss what the presented analysis and visualizations can tell us about the multicultural aspects of Wikipedia and practices of peer-production. Our results indicate that Wikipedia is more than just an encyclopaedia; it is also a window into convergent and divergent social-spatial priorities, interests and preferences.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGlobal Wikipedia: International and cross-cultural issues in online collaboration
PublisherScarecrow Press
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Publication series

NameSSRN Journal

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