Article quality assessment

Template:Article quality assessment

Article quality assessment is a crucial process within Wikipedia for maintaining the high standards of information quality expected from the encyclopedia. It involves evaluating articles against a set of predefined criteria to determine their current state and identify areas for improvement. This assessment isn't about judging the *topic* of an article, but rather the *presentation* of information within the article itself. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding article quality assessment, its importance, the criteria used, the assessment scale, and how editors can participate in the process. While seemingly distant from the world of binary options, the principles of rigorous evaluation and risk assessment inherent in quality assessment mirror those crucial for successful trading. Both require careful analysis, objective criteria, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Why is Article Quality Assessment Important?

Just like a trader needs to assess the risk associated with a particular binary option, Wikipedia needs to assess the quality of its articles. Several key reasons underscore the importance of article quality assessment:

Identifying Weaknesses: Assessment highlights articles that are incomplete, poorly written, biased, or lacking in reliable sources. This allows editors to focus their efforts on improving these areas. Similar to identifying a flawed trading strategy, assessment pinpoints areas needing correction.
Prioritizing Improvements: Not all articles require immediate attention. Assessment helps prioritize which articles need the most work, ensuring efficient use of editor time and resources. This is akin to prioritizing trades based on technical analysis and probability of success.
Measuring Progress: Assessment provides a baseline for measuring the improvements made to articles over time. This allows the community to track progress and identify areas where further effort is needed. Tracking improvement is similar to backtesting a binary options strategy to gauge its long-term performance.
Guiding New Editors: Assessment can help new editors understand the standards expected of Wikipedia articles, providing a clear roadmap for contributing effectively. Just as a novice trader learns from experienced mentors, new editors benefit from understanding the assessment criteria.
Improving Wikipedia's Reputation: High-quality articles enhance Wikipedia's credibility as a reliable source of information. A reputation for quality is paramount, much like a successful trader builds a reputation for consistent profits.

The Assessment Criteria

The criteria used to assess article quality are based on the five pillars of Wikipedia:

1. Verifiability: All content must be verifiable through reliable sources. Claims should be supported by citations to reputable publications, academic research, or other established sources. This is analogous to a trader relying on credible market data to make informed decisions. Without verifiable sources, an article is considered fundamentally flawed. 2. Neutral Point of View (NPOV): Articles should present information in a neutral and unbiased manner, representing all significant viewpoints fairly and without favoring any particular perspective. This is comparable to avoiding emotional bias when executing a Put Option or a Call Option. 3. No Original Research: Articles should not contain original research, interpretations, or analyses that have not been published elsewhere. Wikipedia is a tertiary source, summarizing existing knowledge, not creating new knowledge. A trader shouldn't act on unverified rumors but rely on established market trends. 4. Completeness: Articles should cover the topic in a comprehensive and thorough manner, addressing all major aspects and perspectives. While complete coverage is ideal, it’s a spectrum. A well-developed article offers substantial information, similar to a trader considering multiple indicators for a comprehensive market view. 5. Style and Formatting: Articles should be well-written, clear, concise, and grammatically correct. They should also adhere to Wikipedia's Manual of Style, ensuring consistent formatting and presentation. Clear communication is vital, much like a trader understanding the terms and conditions of a binary option contract.

These criteria are evaluated in relation to the article’s length and complexity. A short stub article will be assessed differently than a long, detailed featured article.

The Assessment Scale

Wikipedia uses a hierarchical assessment scale to categorize articles based on their quality. The scale typically includes the following levels:

Stub: A very short article that provides minimal information on the topic. Often just a starting point for further development. Think of it like a quick, speculative trade with a very small investment.
Start: A basic article that provides some information on the topic but is still significantly underdeveloped. It meets the basic requirements for an encyclopedia entry but requires substantial expansion. Similar to a trader beginning to understand a new trading strategy.
C: An article that is reasonably well-written and provides a good overview of the topic. It is generally complete enough to be informative but may still have some minor issues with sourcing, neutrality, or completeness. A solid, stable position in a trade.
B: A well-developed article that meets most of the criteria for a good encyclopedia entry. It is generally well-sourced, neutral, and reasonably comprehensive. It demonstrates a good understanding of the topic. A trade showing consistent profitability with moderate trading volume.
Good Article (GA): An article that meets the Good Article criteria, which are more stringent than those for a B-class article. It has been reviewed by editors and found to be well-written, well-sourced, neutral, and comprehensive. A successful trade that yields a significant return. Achieving GA status requires a dedicated review process, much like a trader carefully analyzing a completed trade to learn from its outcome.
Featured Article (FA): The highest level of assessment. Featured Articles are exceptionally well-written, well-researched, and comprehensive. They represent the best of Wikipedia and serve as models for other articles. A highly profitable and strategically executed High/Low binary option. FA status demands meticulous attention to detail and a thorough understanding of the topic.

It's important to note that these are guidelines, and the assessment of an article can be subjective. Different editors may have different opinions on the quality of an article, and discussion and consensus are often required to reach a final assessment.

How to Participate in Article Quality Assessment

Many projects within Wikipedia have established assessment systems. Here’s how you can participate:

1. Join a WikiProject: WikiProjects are groups of editors who collaborate on improving articles related to a specific topic. Many WikiProjects have assessment guidelines and processes. 2. Learn the Assessment Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with the assessment criteria and scale used by the WikiProject you join. 3. Use Assessment Templates: WikiProjects typically use templates to mark the quality of articles. These templates are usually placed on the article's talk page. 4. Discuss Assessments: If you disagree with an assessment, discuss it with other editors on the article's talk page. Consensus is key. 5. Review Articles: Participate in the review process for Good Article and Featured Article candidates. This is a great way to learn about quality assessment and contribute to improving Wikipedia.

Tools for Article Quality Assessment

Several tools can assist in article quality assessment:

WikiAssess: A tool that helps editors assess articles and provides feedback on areas for improvement.
Automated Review Tools: Tools that can automatically check articles for common errors, such as broken links, spelling mistakes, and formatting issues.
Peer Review: Requesting a peer review can provide valuable feedback from other editors on the quality of your articles.

Assessment & Binary Options: Parallels in Risk and Reward

The process of article quality assessment shares surprising parallels with the world of binary options trading. Consider these points:

**Risk Assessment:** Just as a trader assesses the risk of a trade, an assessor evaluates the weaknesses of an article. Both involve identifying potential problems.
**Due Diligence:** Verifying sources in Wikipedia is akin to a trader performing fundamental analysis before investing. Both require thorough research.
**Objective Criteria:** Wikipedia assessment uses defined criteria, mirroring the objective rules of a Ladder Option or other binary contract.
**Continuous Improvement:** Improving an article is like refining a trading strategy; both require iterative adjustments based on feedback and results.
**Reward (Quality):** A Featured Article represents the highest reward for effort, much like a successful trade generating a profit.

Understanding these parallels can help illustrate the importance of rigorous evaluation and the benefits of a systematic approach, whether you’re editing an encyclopedia or trading binary options.

Table Summarizing Assessment Levels

Article Quality Assessment Levels
Level	Description	Characteristics	Equivalent in Binary Options
Stub	Very short, minimal information	Lacks substantial content, often just a starting point.	Initial, high-risk trade with minimal investment.
Start	Basic overview, underdeveloped	Provides some information, but requires significant expansion.	Learning a new trading strategy – initial exploration.
C	Reasonably well-written, good overview	Generally complete, but may have minor issues.	Stable position with moderate potential.
B	Well-developed, meets most criteria	Well-sourced, neutral, reasonably comprehensive.	Consistent profitability with moderate trading volume.
Good Article (GA)	Meets Good Article criteria	Well-written, well-sourced, neutral, comprehensive.	Successful trade yielding a significant return.
Featured Article (FA)	Exceptionally well-written and researched	Best of Wikipedia, serves as a model.	Highly profitable, strategically executed trade.

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