Forum:SH:What is original research?

What is original research? I've recently come into minor conflict of opinions with a couple of other wookieepedians about what constitutes original research, specifically in regards to "circa" dates.

Link to relevant policy: Attribution

Keep in mind that slight ambiguity of dates is precisely the reason why circa exists: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circa

So here are a few examples:


 * Gara Petothel was born in the first few years of the New Order. We know that the new order occurred at 19 BBY with the formation of the Empire. A few is an imprecise measure, meaning anywhere from 2-4 but that still gives a narrow range for her birth.
 * Would it be logical/correct to write "c. 17 BBY" or "c. 16 BBY"?
 * Would it be logical/correct to write "c. 17 BBY–15 BBY" to cover the range?
 * Dhar Bullwin in the sourcebook explicitly lists his age as 62 however the sourcebook itself is ambiguously defined as just being early New Republic Era. We know the New Republic Era spans 5 ABY - 25 ABY.
 * Would it be logical/correct to write "Before 37 BBY"? This is technically correct and emphasizes the fact that an age was explicitly given but unfortunately there is still missing information about the exact time.
 * Fable Astin was born around the formation of the Empire. Again we know when the Empire was formed.
 * Would it be logical/correct to write "c. 19 BBY"?