User:Thorncrag/Investigations

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Abstract
I often wonder when I see some editors on Wikipedia take some kind of policy-related action if that editor was actually truly informed when they took the action. In many cases after conducting my own cursory investigation I have found that the editor probably didn't do much of their own before taking action because the action seemed unwarranted.

Consequently, I often wonder if other editors ask themselves the same of my actions on Wikipedia. Accordingly, I have developed a categorization of investigations that I typically conduct pertaining to my policy-related actions. I try to follow these guidelines and try to include a tag for the level of investigation I take into an action on the affected user's page so that other editors know that I didn't take the action "off-the-cuff". I propose that serious editors also consider following these or developing their own guidelines&#8212;not just tagging but also using this criteria and taking the time to investigate before taking action.

Please note that the WP policies listed below are meant only as suggestions and that they do not substitute any criteria that may be required to take action for any policy cited.
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Summary Judgement
A summary judgement or investigation would be considered a standard identification and reversion of an edit, or immediate reporting of an article or user/IP that is clearly a violation of WP policy. A summary investigation is called for when there is clear and convincing evidence of a violation where further investigation would not be necessary.
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Level 1 Investigation
A level 1 investigation is a brief investigation into an article or user/IP contribution history to identify a violation. A level 1 investigation must consist of more than just a simple clicking of a button using a tool such as Huggle, otherwise it would be considered a summary judgement. A level 1 investigation may be conducted for one of the following:
 * an edit may be more ambiguously vandalism
 * a further look into a page or user/IP history to identify incidents of vandalism that have not previously been identified or where the user/IP has not been warned
 * possible WP:COPYRIGHT
 * possible WP:LIBEL
 * possible WP:BLP
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Level 2 Investigation
A level 2 investigation is a slightly more in-depth look into a user/IP or article's recent contribution history. It may be for one of the following:
 * identification of a currently highly-targeted article and request for page protection
 * identification of a currently active vandal account or IP and where a final warning has been given and a request for temporary block
 * possible WP:GRAPEVINE
 * possible WP:VERIFIABILITY
 * possible WP:POV

A level 2 investigation would include gathering evidence needed to report a user/IP or article.
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Level 3 Investigation
A level 3 investigation is a more extensive look into a user/IP or article's contribution history. It includes an analysis of a wider period of time into the history to identify incidents of violations. I level 3 investigation may be conducted for one of the following:
 * any of the previous levels where more investigation is required
 * to identify an account or IP which has been linked to a history of violations
 * to identify an article which is a violation of WP policy and citing the correct WP policy
 * WP:CHECKUSER
 * possible WP:HOAX
 * possible WP:FRINGE
 * possible WP:ATTACK

A level 3 investigation will include gathering evidence needed to report a user/IP or article. Typically, a level 3 would be conducted for incidents where a violation has clearly occurred but when it isn't clearly defined which WP policy is in question, or because the contribution in question is ambiguous on its face.
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Level 4 Investigation
A level 4 investigation is a thorough look into a user/IP or article. It is generally more in-depth and detailed than a level 3, when such depth and detailed may be necessary. A level 4 may be conducted for the following:
 * any of the previous levels where more investigation is required
 * WP:HARASSMENT
 * WP:ABUSE
 * WP:SOCK
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Level 5 Investigation
A level 5 investigation is an extensive investigation where more time is required.
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Ongoing Investigation
An ongoing investigation is an extensive investigation which remains open for longer than 24 hours.
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