**Please provide all the following information:**
* **Context.** Provide a short paragraph with some background context for your request, please include links to relevant material.
In 2024/25 , through the knowledge equity objective,through the [[ https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Annual_Plan/2024-2025/Goals/Equity#Closing_Knowledge_Gaps | knowledge equity objective ]], we have had an opportunity to support 5 new languages Southern Ndebele (nrwiki), Iban (ibawiki), Obolo (annwiki), Tai Nüa (tddwiki), Pannonian Rusyn (rskwiki) . we havSo far we had an opportunity to support new languages throughve tested several hypothesis as defined in the [[ https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Future_of_Language_Incubation | future of incubation initiative ]] org/wiki/Language_Onboarding_and_Development_/_Annual_Plan_2024-25#Idea_1:_Providing_Access_to_Modern_Wiki_Features_Beyond_Incubator | 2024-24 Annual plan ]]. [[ https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Research:Languages_Onboarding_Experiment_2024_-_Executive_Summary | Learnings from this experiment ]], highlighted that most of the test Wikipedias that were allowed to ‘graduate’ from the Incubator early and receive full production access were in fact experiencing decreased content editing activity. We however learnt that the decline in edits was not limited to these wikis, but to other wikis that have graduated recently for example Central Dusin Wikipedia created on 28th May 2024, Angika wikipedia created on 22nd March 2024 and Kusaal Wikipedia created on 24th April 2024 just to mention a few. In terms of article creation, we observed that only Iban Wikipedia showed a significant increase in the number of articles created, while others either remained stable or declined.
Digging up this further, we observed different patterns of content growth in various wikis. So far we have tested 4 hypothesis;For example, looking at a few recently launched wikis from this [[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wikipedias#Active_editions | list ]] that have either grown fairly quickly or declined since their launch-Betawi Wikipedia, which has reached nearly 3,000 articles since its launch in April 2024-what’s their story? Or how did Moroccan Amazigh Wikipedia managed to create over 11,000 articles since its launch in November 2023 with 36 editors? On the other hand, what happened to Dinka Wikipedia, which, since its launch in 2017, has struggled to surpass 400 articles and grow beyond 11 editors?
* **Description.***What is your request about?
- If we create a selection criteria and collaborate with the Language Committee to identify 5 languages that will receive access to a full-fledged wiki with modern features, we will be able to co-articulate feasibility and readiness requirements for implementation and success measurement across the selected language communities (
- If we provide production wiki access to 5 new languages, with or without Incubator, we will learn whether access to a full-fledged wiki with modern features such as those available on English Wikipedia (including ContentTranslation and Wikidata support, advanced editing and search results) aids in faster editing. Ultimately, this will inform us if this approach can be a viable direction for language onboarding for new or existing languages, justifying further investigation.Provide observations and inferences about reasonable content growth in x set of wikis within a certain period of time from graduation date
- If we move addwiki.php to core and customize it to Wikimedia, we will improve code quality in our wiki creation system making it testable and robust, it will be easier for creators of new wikis, and thereby make significant steps towards simplifying wiki creation process .
- If we document the pre-incubator, incubator, and post-incubator journeys for the five pilot wikis with quantitative and qualitative data, we will identify key factors influencing new language wiki success.
Learnings from this experiment, highlighted that most of the test Wikipedias that were allowed to ‘graduate’ from the Incubator early and receive full production access were in fact experiencing decreased content editing activity. We however learnt that the decline in edits was not limited to these wikis, but to other wikis that have graduated recently for example Central Dusin Wikipedia created on 28th May 2024, Angika wikipedia created on 22nd March 2024 and Kusaal Wikipedia created on 24th April 2024 just to mention a few. As as per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wikipedias, there are over 100+ wikipedias with 20 or less active editors. When a wiki is fully created, it appears to us that the real life of the community begins: writing articles, communicating with each other, inviting more writers, etc. In 2025/26, we would like to explore interventions to support content growth of emerging language wikipedias.
* **Description.***What is your request about?
We would like to understand what factors lead to successful content growth in "emerging wikipedias". What are the experiences of these communities. What are they leveraging to grow content. (it's up to us to define successful content growth"). In these languages, what does contribution and readership look like?Provide observations and inferences about slow content growth in x set of wikis within a certain period of time from graduation date
On the other hand, other "emerging wikipedias" are experiencing a decrease in content growth, what pain points are these facing? what are the experiences of these communities as well. (it's up to us to define what "decrease in content growth means) . Similarly, In these languages, what does contribution and readership look like?
**Scope**
- Wikipedias
- Reduced set of languages (to be determined)
- The focus is on research to provide recommendations, not general understanding
- No major new research, primarily focusing on the existing literature as well as data already collected and analyses concluded.observations and inferences
- As needed, additional qualitative and quantitative analyses will be done to tighten the recommendations or provide more backing and grounding for the recommendations.Both Qualitative and Quantitative insights
- If possible, either way to talk with people in smaller WP languages and those who participated in the pilot.
- //To be added as relevant//
**Draft deliverables(s)**
- A set of proposed hypothesis or recommendations that the team can inform FY26-Q1+ hypotheses that the team will work on.observations and inferences about reasonable content growth and slow growth in x set of wikis within a certain period of time from graduation date
Original text by @MaryMunyoki: "An understanding of the Growth pain-points of small language wikipedias that will eventually inform potential technical interventions that can support their growth."
* **Priority** Please indicate a priority of your task and a small description of what it would unlock for you. We ask you to leave this task as “needs triage” since your request will go through a Backlog refinement process where our team will prioritize the work.
High. This work is a continuation of our OKR work and will help us explore potential interventions to support growth of smallcontent growth for languages in aligning with the Knowledge equity objectivewith a smaller presence on our platform. Ideally,We expect this work to contribute to [[ https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Annual_Plan/2025-2026/Product_%26_Technology_OKRs#Vital_Knowledge_(WE2) | vital knowledge objective. it would be great if this work can be prioritized for Q3 with outcomes ready by the end of Q4 (around mid June 2025 ).]] Ideally, This will give us an opportunity to begin brainstorming in Q4 and propose potential hypothesis ideas to be tested in 2025/26it would be great if this work can be prioritized for Q1.
I need this task resolved in:
[ ] 1 month.
[x ] 3 months.
[ x] 6 months.
[ ] Whenever you get to it :-)
* **Other.** Do you have any other questions or comments ?
As per my understanding,Ground work is needed to align on definitions for this research for example what is reasonable content growth? there is still no standard definition of what an "emerging" language wikipedia is.what does slow growth mean? From our discussions we thought it is those with active users between 3-20.
What are the set of wikis to draw observations and inferences from?
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2. What is the type of work requested? insights and recommendations for decision making
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[x] Support a technology or policy need of one or more WM projects
[] Advance the understanding of the WM projects.
[] Something else. If you choose this option, please explain briefly the impact below.