Wikipedia edition dynamics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a probabilistic model for Wikipedia editing dynamics, incorporating preferential attachment, editor fitness, and aging, successfully reproducing observed editing patterns for individual pages and averages.

Contribution

It presents a new stochastic process model for Wikipedia editing behavior, integrating key factors like attachment, fitness, and aging, validated against real data.

Findings

Model accurately reproduces Wikipedia editing patterns

Recursive equation describes average editing behavior

Incorporates multiple factors influencing edits

Abstract

A model for the probabilistic function followed in Wikipedia edition is presented and compared with simulations and real data. It is argued that the probability to edit is proportional to the editor's number of previous editions (preferential attachment), to the editor's fitness and to an ageing factor. Using these simple ingredients, it is possible to reproduce the results obtained for Wikipedia edition dynamics for a collection of single pages as well as the averaged results. Using a stochastic process framework, a recursive equation was obtained for the average of the number of editions per editor that seems to describe the editing behaviour in Wikipedia.