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--- policies:editorial_guidelines [2026/06/01 17:40] – created admin
+++ policies:editorial_guidelines [2026/06/01 17:52] (current) – [No Original Research] admin
@@ Line 132: / Line 132: @@
 Examples include:
-  * Encyclopedias
+* Encyclopedias
-  * Reference works
+* Reference works
-  * Educational summaries
+* Educational summaries
+* Institutional knowledge bases
+* Historical compilations
-Tertiary sources may be useful for background information but should not be relied upon exclusively.
+Tertiary sources may be used to provide background information, establish context, identify research leads, or summarize well-established information.
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+Michipedia recognizes that historical preservation, genealogy, local history, science, and technical subjects often rely on a mixture of primary, secondary, and tertiary materials.
-===== No Original Research =====
+As a result, tertiary sources may be used more flexibly when:
-Michipedia does not publish original research.
+* The information is relevant to understanding a subject.
+* The source is reasonably reliable.
+* The information can be corroborated through available evidence when necessary.
+* The subject has historical, educational, institutional, scientific, or research value.
-Editors may not:
+===== Research Repositories =====
-  * Publish personal theories.
+Academic repositories and research archives may be cited when appropriate.
-  * Draw novel conclusions.
-  * Synthesize unrelated facts into new arguments.
-  * Conduct unpublished investigations.
-  * Use articles to advance personal interpretations.
-Articles should summarize information already published by reliable sources. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
+Examples include:
+* arXiv
+* institutional repositories
+* university archives
+* conference proceedings
+* technical papers
+* preprints
+Research papers hosted on platforms such as arXiv may be cited when they provide relevant information, particularly in scientific, mathematical, technical, engineering, or academic topics.
+Editors should note whether a work is:
+* Peer-reviewed
+* Published
+* A preprint
+* A working paper
+Preprints and unpublished research should be presented carefully and should not be treated as settled fact unless supported by additional evidence.
+===== Preservation Principle =====
+Editors should not dismiss information solely because it appears in a tertiary source or research repository.
+Many subjects that are obscure today may become valuable to researchers, historians, descendants, students, or the public in the future.
+Whenever possible, editors should continue seeking primary and secondary sources, but the absence of extensive secondary coverage does not automatically disqualify documented information from inclusion.
+Michipedia favors preservation of documented knowledge over unnecessary exclusion.
+===== Original Research and Institutional Publication =====
+Michipedia generally discourages unpublished original research.
+However, Michipedia recognizes that many valuable historical discoveries, genealogical findings, local records, technical papers, and archival projects originate from independent researchers rather than traditional publishers.
+Original research may be included when it has been formally published or endorsed by a recognized institution.
+Examples include:
+* Historical societies
+* Museums
+* Universities
+* Libraries
+* Tribal governments
+* Archives
+* Government agencies
+* Educational organizations
+* Research institutions
+To qualify, the work should be:
+* Publicly accessible
+* Attributable to an author or organization
+* Published in a stable location
+* Subject to some level of institutional review or sponsorship
+===== Institutional Seals =====
+Michipedia may recognize verified organizations through an Institutional Seal system.
+Institutional Seals indicate that content originates from, is maintained by, or has been reviewed by a recognized organization.
+Examples may include:
+* University Seal
+* Historical Society Seal
+* Museum Seal
+* Government Seal
+* Tribal Nation Seal
+* Library Seal
+* Research Institution Seal
+Institutional Seals do not guarantee accuracy and do not exempt content from editorial review. They serve as indicators of provenance, authorship, and organizational accountability.
+===== Verified Institutional Contributors =====
+Organizations may apply for verified status.
+Verified organizations may:
+* Maintain institutional pages
+* Publish archival materials
+* Submit research collections
+* Contribute historical records
+* Display approved Institutional Seals
+Verification may require evidence of organizational legitimacy, public presence, or legal existence.
+===== Preservation Principle =====
+Michipedia values the preservation of documented knowledge.
+Information should not be excluded solely because it originated from independent research if that research has been formally published through a recognized organization or institution.
+The goal of Michipedia is to preserve and organize knowledge while providing readers with clear information regarding the source and provenance of that knowledge.
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