Originally Posted by
Nominal Animal
The same for Finnish version of Wikipedia. There the bias there is towards conformance to the main (most widely accepted) view of a subject. Usually, the dissenting views are not mentioned at all, or worse, are mentioned in a way that colors them silly or misguided.
The bias, technically, is one of omission. Any dissenting views have to prove their relevance to other editors, while conformant views are rarely challenged. (Note, I mean regardless of the external references.)
Scientific publications in Finland, especially in linguistics, history, and archaeology, are extremely conformance-seeking. Any non-conformant research will have a very hard time to get published, regardless of its scientific quality or impact elsewhere in the world. If noted by main-stream media, they will usually be met with very veiled name-calling, recognizable as name-calling only if you have a sufficient background in the subject.
I only noticed this because my own views in certain small areas differ from the mainstream Finnish interpretations. Nothing that would even raise an eyebrow elsewhere in the world -- actually, it seems my views are considered quite mainstream elsewhere.
As I pride myself on being analytical, I checked out areas where I have some experience and knowledge in (but no opinions of my own), and realized the bias, compared to the corresponding English Wikipedia article, is clear. Only in contemporary local issues where English speakers have little interest in, is the Wikipedia coverage in Finnish wider than in English. It seems that the Finnish writers do look at the other-language versions of Wikipedia, and pick details that fit their own world-view.
I believe the bias is unintentional, possibly even subconscious, by the Finnish Wikipedia authors. They don't seem to wish to include all the information they see in other language versions, and the ones they pick tend to be the ones that conform to their own opinions.
In fact, the reason there is any bias at all, is probably because there are so few Finnish Wikipedia authors. Almost all Finns learn English at school, starting from the 3rd grade. (We also don't dub movies except for very small children -- we use subtitles -- so most Finns do understand English even if they're too shy to speak it. When a Finn stares at you under their brows, sharply/intently, they're just furiously trying to find out what you think of them.)
If there were more Finnish Wikipedia authors, they'd fill in the details that other authors have left out. After all, the contributions are not -- or ought not! -- evaluated based on the author, but based on its content, and whether it has references or not. The drive towards conformance by existing Wikipedia authors is likely one factor that is driving authors to the English version. (I wonder if people tend to be less emotional when speaking in a foreign language? I certainly am, when writing English.)
Perhaps a similar effect is at work in other languages, too? If so, you could make a very rough estimate by the number of contributors..
In any case, I don't trust any one source. Be critical, and compare multiple sources, and make up your own opinion based on their arguments, not the source.