 | This essay is in development. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. Essays may represent widespread norms or minority viewpoints. Consider these views with discretion, especially since this page is still under construction. |
As Wikipedians we represent the largest and most read Encyclopedia to ever have existed. Therefore, it is not self-aggrandizing to state that this makes us a very important group of people. For many, we represent the collective knowledge of the world — a position and responsibility not to be taken lightly. While individual contributions may not be significant, as a collective our work is revolutionizing. As a group, we are a highly selected bunch and poorly represent the world at large. We are to a greater extent Western, male, highly educated and belong to certain professions. This matters because we risk introducing systemic biases in our coverage. However, all bias is not systemic, and all systemic bias is not unique to Wikipedia.
Some bias arises because we are human, and humans are prone to logical fallacies and misconceptions. Other bias is systemic, but not caused by the make-up of Wikipedians, but by the make-up of the world. Even with perfect proportional representation some bias will remain.
One strategy that Wikipedia employs to counter bias is analogous to the 'many eyes' principle of software bugs, expressed by Linus Torvalds "given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow". The Wikipedia version states: "given a sufficient number of varied viewpoints, all bias is avoided". This holds fast, and some of our best articles are on highly controversial subjects, with extensive debate on the talk pages. To an extent it is true that bias can be avoided this way, but it is not true that it necessarily overcomes bias that arises because we are human. The best strategy to avoid bias is by making ourselves aware of it. This essay attempts to shed light on some biases we Wikipedians (and our fellow humans) have, and ways to avoid them. The ways in which these biases affect Wikipedia, and the ways they synergize with Wikipedia's unique systemic biases; as well as those that affect the world at large — is explored. This essay lists some common biases as well as strategies to avoid them. It also discusses how you can go about making other people aware of bias in their reasoning. I invite other editors to contribute to avoid any bias introduced here by only having one author.