Category:Pages needing expansion: Difference between revisions

The intention of this category is to give ideas for any kind of projects, whether practical, theoretical, literature review, or a combination.

They may be, for example:

• personal,
• academic (theses or smaller projects, individual, group or class),
• organizational,
• commercial (provided it is not simplly for advertising purposes)
• joint, with other people or groups that you connect with on Appropedia.

The pages in this category use the {{suggested project}} template. To find the specific idea for the project, search the page for the text "suggested project" which will appear as a superscript link next to the question or proposal.

Suggested approaches

Literature review

A literature review can be very valuable. Important findings are sometimes difficult to find - writing up the results of your review on Appropedia can provide a valuable resource for others.

Places to look:

• Wikipedia - is often a great starting point. A good Wikipedia article gives more than one side to arguments, and lists very good internet resources for the topic.
• A good library (large community library, state library or university library).
• Google Scholar - some results are restricted access, but some are free.
• Google books
• Google search - with the right search terms, and you can often find very good sources. Experiment.

Remember to view all sources critically, especially when claims are not sourced.

When writing up the literature review, use references, whether the name and page of a book, or a link.

Research projects

If conducting a research project, in most cases it hese projects might best be approached initially with a literature review. However, just because someone has looked at the question before doesn't mean you shouldn't do it - especially if only one or two have done it:

• Follow sound principles of scientific investigation, and your work may help to confirm important findings - or show where other studies were flawed. (Scientists often make mistakes!)
• You may discover additional results, refine the results further, or show where the results are or aren't applicable.

Practical project

To increase your chances of success, try networking with other users with similar interests - look at Category:Users by interest; also check who has contributed on articles in your area of interest (click the History tab). You can also leave a note on the Village pump (and give time for people to answer).

To propose a project

You may propose a project using one of these methods:

• mention the idea on a relevant page, followed by the {{suggested project}} template.
• create a new page, also using the {{suggested project}} template somewhere on the page. A separate project page is suitable for a very long project description.
• describe your idea briefly in the Additional suggested projects below (if it's not listed elsewhere and tagged as described)

Additional suggested projects

You may wish to sign and date your suggestion. This does not mean you are responsible for carrying out the project.

You may add comments below a suggestion, (using a double colon, :: at the beginning to double indent the line). For example please mention if you are doing the project, or have written it up (with a link to the page).

• Compare the cost-effectiveness of low-environmental-impact hot water systems in a particular setting. This may consider home-made options (expected to be suitable for tropical and developing word settings) and the low cost mass-produced Chinese systems, mentioned at Wikipedia:Solar hot water.

See also

• Prizes and competitions - some of which pose specific problems which can be explored as projects.

Note regarding subcategories

Where a topic page appears under subcateories, this just means that the above template is used on that topic page, not that it is meant to be a subcateory of "Suggested projects."