Trade-a-fact

Assessment | Biopsychology | Comparative | Cognitive | Developmental | Language | Individual differences | Personality | Philosophy | Social |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |

A trade-a-fact website is one run on the principle that users who take a fact should contribute a fact -- or more broadly, users who take an idea should contribute an idea. This should not deter you from using the site, but it is a principle to aspire to. Backgound Using the old internet technology of static websites, where material is uploaded and updated by a webmaster, sites can only be viewed passively, and the user is just a consumer of content. The availability of the new collaborative software, where readers can contribute, brings with it the need for a more active stance to help build the new kind of knowledge structure never before possible. There is a growing academic and professional expectation that users will participate by adding to this site. The social contract Each generation of technology brings its own etiquette and social rules which take some time to be socially negotiated. Just as you now switch off your mobile phone in theatres, on the new websites the social contract involved between one user and the others is that facts will be traded. What to do If you find a reference useful - add an ISBN link; if you find an ISBN link useful - add an informative paragraph to an article. Where you can, contribute in kind for the benefits you receive. This doesn't preclude you from contributing more actively, that is always welcome. Rather, it indicates a fresh academic and professional responsibility placed on you to help build this new kind of knowledge database. Just as most academic and professional people are expected to know how to use the old internet, now the expectation is that they have the skills to contribute to the modern, collaborative internet. You can help this process yourselves by developing these skills and then disseminating them to others. Over time, we will develop an appropriate set of cultural norms involving wikis where these expectations will be more widely recognised. For the time being, trade-a-fact is a good principle to follow. Take the time to learn the simple procedures for editing on the editing tutorial page, and don't let your anxiety about treading this new ground overcome you - because contributing is the 'right' thing to do! Here is the current list of tasks to do. There is much to choose from for all levels of skill. Take your pick, join us and enjoy!!!