Scholarly wikis for rapid dissemination

Jon Gresham, Social Software and Research Dissemination: E-Speed is Useful, Electronic Journal of Sociology, 2006. 

Abstract:   Fast and wide dissemination of research promotes successful discussion, debate and dialogue. This paper describes internet-facilitated discussion on ethno-religious research as one component of a communication plan. International organizations asked me to keep them informed on my research when I began a pilot study in Iraq after the 2003 war ended. I began a "wiki" (an open co-authoring forum, and collaboration tool) as a public place to post concept pieces and research-in-progress reports and to organize internet links and resources. The wiki rapidly became a no-cost discussion arena for scholars, practitioners, and the public about social and political systems. This collaboration became global, with often more than one hundred daily readers! Research application is important, and there is no substitute for multi-disciplinary live discussion, archiving online the facts and opinions for future reference, with print versions supplemental instead of primary. While this style of e-review and e-reporting will not take the honoured place of print publishing, it certainly should be considered for rapidly disseminating research in progress, exploring theoretical challenges, and providing resources for practitioners.

PS:  I don't want to speak for Gresham, but he might have meant to say that the aspect of traditional publication with an honored place, not likely to be displaced by wikis, is peer review, not print.