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Posted by: Newsfeed

<img alt="" height="1" width="1" />http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHbXgiqbcPYxLLUL1XkPJz1XUtLvw&url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/322698
DigitalJournal.com (press release)
FREDERICTON, May 30 /CNW/ - A student writing an essay for their teacher may be tempted to plagiarize or leave facts unchecked. A new study shows that if you ask that same student to write something that will be posted on Wikipedia, he or she suddenly ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dupBJeYrNKOtRTM

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHbXgiqbcPYxLLUL1XkPJz1XUtLvw&url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/322698

Posted by: Newsfeed

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Canada NewsWire (press release)
FREDERICTON, May 30 /CNW/ - A student writing an essay for their teacher may be tempted to plagiarize or leave facts unchecked. A new study shows that if you ask that same student to write something that will be posted on Wikipedia, he or she suddenly ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dhhjhNJSQr4NcvM

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFolVXxx8wTrJs6pVXqNpwR0XaquA&url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2011/30/c8623.html

Posted by: Newsfeed

<img alt="" height="1" width="1" />http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHevfepjqTj-rbALbOF77P_unuPfA&url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/30/can-wikipedia-improve-students-work/
National Post (blog)
It's one of the big no-nos of academia: Whatever you do, don't source Wikipedia. But what happens when students contribute to the crowd-sourced online encyclopedia themselves, and for course credit, no less? Turns out the same students known to submit ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dZO_A2-BVQHcElM

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHevfepjqTj-rbALbOF77P_unuPfA&url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/30/can-wikipedia-improve-students-work/

Posted by: thekohser

Comment by Gregory Kohs:

Posted by: thekohser

Also, in what may be the http://congress2011.ca/program/, I am unable to see that Dr. Brenna Gray presented anything at any time at this Congress, much less "on Saturday". Perhaps it's just a big lie. An administrative assistant of the Congress headquarters told me that there are "hundreds" of small sessions at the Congress that do not appear on the main website. Gray's talk must have been one of those small sessions.

I'll check to see if she'll share her methodology:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qqlZQovYe-w/SLrYhWr2fVI/AAAAAAAAACE/qDvf4v-zuyo/S220/Photo+117.jpg
grayb@douglas.bc.ca

Posted by: Newsfeed

<img alt="" height="1" width="1" />http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFoAoYA6wQiCkAus2hRASVhbteFlw&url=http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/reportcard/archive/2011/05/30/publishing.aspx
Vancouver Sun (blog)
Students do more research and are less likely to plagiarize when they know their essays will be posted on Wikipedia, rather than just read by a teacher. That's the finding of a new study by ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dtLJuRLj21fm3eM

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFoAoYA6wQiCkAus2hRASVhbteFlw&url=http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/reportcard/archive/2011/05/30/publishing.aspx

Posted by: Newsfeed

<img alt="" height="1" width="1" />http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFc8t_qN3eB4jujWl6a8HM28mBopg&url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/2056014/wikipedia_improves_students_work/
RedOrbit
A student writing an essay for their teacher may be tempted to plagiarize or leave facts unchecked. A new study shows that if you ask that same student to write something that will be posted on Wikipedia, he or she suddenly becomes determined to make ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dnRUwylgqXwOqdM

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFc8t_qN3eB4jujWl6a8HM28mBopg&url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/2056014/wikipedia_improves_students_work/

Posted by: Newsfeed

<img alt="" height="1" width="1" />http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGB-YPg2VNvUPl4-JqUDFWczIku6w&url=http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-05/cfft-wis053011.php
EurekAlert (press release)
May 30 – Fredericton, NB – A student writing an essay for their teacher may be tempted to plagiarize or leave facts unchecked. A new study shows that if you ask that same student to write something that will be posted on Wikipedia, he or she suddenly ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dgKDsGz2lvuvvdM

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGB-YPg2VNvUPl4-JqUDFWczIku6w&url=http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-05/cfft-wis053011.php

Posted by: thekohser

Comment:

Posted by: Newsfeed

<img alt="" height="1" width="1" />http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNG2H490y2P2GbKv9Ra1kw1squYc5w&url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110531102708.htm
Science Daily (press release)
ScienceDaily (May 30, 2011) — A student writing an essay for their teacher may be tempted to plagiarize or leave facts unchecked. A new study shows that if you ask that same student to write something that will be posted on Wikipedia, ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dVbezZ34-6WZxCM

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNG2H490y2P2GbKv9Ra1kw1squYc5w&url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110531102708.htm

Posted by: Newsfeed

<img alt="" height="1" width="1" />http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNE32rmgKa_CPWrki901kOq8H40UdQ&url=http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/05/31/wikipedia.improves.students.work
Eureka! Science News
A student writing an essay for their teacher may be tempted to plagiarize or leave facts unchecked. A new study shows that if you ask that same student to write something that will be posted on Wikipedia, he or she suddenly becomes determined to make ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=d1YpBAzKlZajDBM

Posted by: MZMcBride

An interesting article. It's not particularly surprising that people find more value in writing content that will be seen by more than two people (the teacher and the student). The article skirts around the biographies of living people problem, but gets close enough that I can give the author credit.

Posted by: thekohser

What do you make of the concern that Dr. Gray hasn't actually released her study on the web anywhere, that her read-out was not on the conference schedule, and that a call to the conference today still hasn't produced any reply?

Posted by: Newsfeed

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DailyIndia.com
Washington, June 1: A new study has found that students tend to be more accurate and less likely to plagiarize when they know their essays will be posted on Wikipedia, rather than just read by a teacher.Brenna Gray, an instructor at Douglas College in ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=d4GA9C3p-7y1IuM

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEAEwaJLkobh5Zf0mvM3ECLGs3KRA&url=http://www.dailyindia.com/show/442802.php

Posted by: Newsfeed

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Newstrack India
Washington, June 1 (ANI): A new study has found that students tend to be more accurate and less likely to plagiarize when they know their essays will be posted on Wikipedia, rather than just read by a teacher. Brenna Gray, an instructor at Douglas ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dLe91gjeh-tuVlM

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFrUZm-u3UV0UQ0MZSnydfaWnFodg&url=http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/222627

Posted by: Newsfeed

<img alt="" height="1" width="1" />http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGhaQBCwTY_C1qTDbvApKN9aZzyVQ&url=http://www.dailyindia.com/show/442829.php
DailyIndia.com
Washington, June 1: A new study has found that students tend to be more accurate and less likely to plagiarize when they know their essays will be posted on Wikipedia, rather than just read by a teacher. Brenna Gray, an instructor at Douglas College in ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=d1lNgQSXpNHSnDM

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGhaQBCwTY_C1qTDbvApKN9aZzyVQ&url=http://www.dailyindia.com/show/442829.php

Posted by: Newsfeed

<img alt="" height="1" width="1" />http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEvYc0KrlhaLaL6OvZOn1APXloktA&url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/01/wikipedia_makes_students_do_better_work/
Register
A Canadian English prof says that the use of Wikipedia, in defiance of accepted wisdom, makes students produce better work. This is achieved, however, not by the kids finding stuff out on the notoriously ...

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dmf6J09FybeWsOM

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEvYc0KrlhaLaL6OvZOn1APXloktA&url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/01/wikipedia_makes_students_do_better_work/

Posted by: thekohser

Comment by Gregory Kohs:


Interesting reply from "copsewood", too.

Posted by: thekohser

Interesting series of hits on my biography on Wikipedia Review today:



Probably working together to figure out whether or not I deserve to see Dr. Gray's conference notes. I doubt there's an actual "report" to go with the study.

Posted by: thekohser

I am now upping the ante. I will offer $25 cash to anyone who can obtain a copy of the report/findings that Gray presented at the academic conference. Equally, I will offer $25 to anyone who can point me to a public admission by Dr. Gray that no "report", as such, actually exists (if that is the case).

Posted by: EricBarbour

You might be onto something, Greg.

Despite the obscurity of Ms. Grey and the study, it's spreading like wildfire. I would not be surprised to hear that the WMF is sending it to media people, to "improve" their "reputation".

BTW, she does have http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Brenna.gray. Very strange edit patterns. And inactive since January 2008......

Posted by: The Joy

I looked around on Google Scholar and http://congress2011.ca/. I could not find a copy of her research. It may take a few months before online databases and Google Scholar picks it up though. The strange thing is that I could not find Dr. Gray listed in http://congress2011.ca/program/. There's http://congress2011.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Wikipedia.pdf but that's all. You would think the name of her study would have been mentioned.

I'll look around my university's online databases, but, again, it may be awhile before this appears in a journal or online database.

Posted by: The Joy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Susanna_Centlivre/Archive_1#Meatpuppets

She was accused of meatpuppetry by Geogre (T-C-L-K-R-D) and Bishonen (T-C-L-K-R-D) . After that, her editing trailed off and finally stopped.

The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Susanna_Centlivre/Archive_1 of the Suzanna Centlivre (T-H-L-K-D) talk page yields Dr. Gray's arguments with Geogre and friends.

Posted by: thekohser

Well, I do know this -- Dr. Brenna Gray has not responded to any e-mail from me to her. And her department chair has not responded to an e-mail where she was copied. I contacted a college administrator to find out Gray's phone number, but nobody ever returned that call.

I have finally obtained Gray's office phone number from a staff directory, and I've left a very polite voicemail message for her.

I have a feeling it, too, will go ignored... but let's hope.

I think it would make for a fascinating Examiner story to show how someone went from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Susanna_Centlivre&diff=prev&oldid=90711206 this in 2006:



...to saying http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/30/can-wikipedia-improve-students-work/#more-67693 in 2011:



However you want to slice it, that is a very interesting transformation.

Posted by: thekohser

Dr. Gray just called me. She seems like a very nice person. She noted that Douglas College's spam filter settings are very strict, so my e-mails may have been lost in that trap.

Her Wikipedia-related project is her first foray into educational methods research. She hopes to have a formal paper or monograph published in the Spring 2012. She did not use a traditional blind control/test methodology; rather, most of her results data is based off of personal journals that students kept to track their qualitative experiences with Wikipedia.

The Wikipedia user account Brenna.gray was a multi-user account that was shared by other students when Gray was a graduate student. (BLOCK IT! BLOCK IT!) She said that her current personal Wikipedia account is something like "User:Dr_bg", but I must have misheard her. (Can you even have underscores in WP user names?)

She did recall that her first experiences with Wikipedia were highly frustrating, thanks to User:Geogre.

Mystery solved! She's going to let me know when a more formal output of her findings is publicized.

Posted by: carbuncle

See, Greg, there was no need for all of those harsh words. I hope you have learned to assume good faith for your future dealings with people.

Posted by: EricBarbour

Posted by: thekohser

Which harsh words?

I still have no explanation for why someone from Dr. Gray's home base of New Brunswick was searching my biography online (but not contacting me), nor why the departmental administrator of the college failed to return my telephone call. And, the study lacked very much rigor at all, it turns out. So, was I too harsh?

Posted by: carbuncle

Well you did suggest at one point that the entire thing might be one "big lie" and that there was no report. As it happens, maybe one day there will be a paper. And you made those assumptions about her methodology. Just because you were right about a couple of things doesn't mean that assuming good faith is a bad policy.

Posted by: thekohser

Okay, fair enough. Thanks.