This task involves the work with defining the phases in which the initial Edit Check (reference check) will be made available, en route to //potentially// becoming available at all Wikipedias.
=== Decision(s) to be made
- [x] 1. In what phases will the initial Edit Check (reference check) be made available?
-- 1. Everyone via URL parameter, or a similar individual opt-in basis. //See T345297.//
-- 2. All newcomers at an initial set of partner wikis. //See T327707 and T331947.//
-- 3. 50% of a yet-to-be defined population of people via an A/B test. //See T342930.//
-- 4. All wikis, assuming impact is net positive
- [x] 2. In what ways will we make Edit Check available? //E.g. Beta Features, URL parameter, by default for a subset of people, etc.//
-- See above.
NOTE: all of this is documented on-wiki: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Edit_check#Deployment_sequence.
=== Objectives
The decisions we need to make above are in service of learning the following:
1. **Experienced volunteers**: do they trust the prompts Edit Check will be presenting to newcomers and Junior Contributors will:
-- //Not// be likely to cause people to make more destructive edits than they currently are
-- Likely encourage some newcomers and Junior to make changes that experienced volunteers consider to be productive (read: aligned with project policies and conventions)
2. **Newcomers and Junior Contributors**: do we see clear signs that Edit Check is likely to cause newcomers and Junior Contributors to:
-- Add sources when they add new content or explicitly decide not to do so
-- Feel supported and empowered by the feedback and calls to action Edit Check presents them with
NOTE: the above are borrowed from the `Validate concept` section of the [Edit Check Measurement Plan](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m2L2rt4lDlAmGWgGp0FylZV4xuIk_I6tETFWU9n2h9k/edit#heading=h.3tjkv5w2siud).
=== Reference
As part of the Talk Pages Project, each feature of DiscussionTools was made available as a beta feature and then gradually scaled to more people by way of being offered as a default-on feature.
The approach we take with Edit Check //may// vary in so far as this functionality is being designed for newcomers and Junior Contributors who we assume are unlikely to use or be aware of beta features.