Research Topic - Informal Proposal

User-Authored Online Help
Is it manageable by technical communicators?
If so, then how would the good content become promoted over the 'bad' content?
To what extent are technical communicators who write online help for a product prepared to manage user-authored content that may or may not be accurate, timely, fair, or reflective of company values?

Has the term 'online help' evolved to encompass the content that serves those who go online for any kind of help? For example, my dog is having an unresolvable itching problem which the vet says is an allergy. I want to find out if anyone 'online' can offer any 'help'.

If yes, and the read/write web seems to reflect this, then should technical communicators be involved in online help at all, or should we now turn our efforts to disseminating user-authored content, applying a style guide, and re-posting it as "approved" content. What would happen to technical communication as a respected field?

Perhaps the analytical, research, and organizational skills of the technical communicator are custom made for managing content in the read/write online help social universe. 　
Aim and FocusTo what extent are technical communicators who write online help for a product prepared to manage user-authored content that may or may not be accurate, timely, fair, or reflective of company values? 　
Gap in KnowledgeQuantity vs Quality of User-Authored Content

QuestionsIs it manageable by technical communicators? How?
Why or why not?
Is anyone managing user-authored content now?
What tools or methods are they using?
What has been the outcome?

Sub QuestionsNow is the time to look at user-authored online help by the technical communication community. Each day I use Google to find answers and last week I used a discussion board to try to find out what was wrong with my PDA. I did this for a full two-three days before I even considered calling Tech Support. Why?

I don't know what work is being done in this area. I need to find out.

My position is that the technical communication industry is being overrun by user-authored online help and that user attitudes towards corporate-sponsored content is negative.

I need to find out what the experts are saying about this.

I'm not sure what my research methodology should be other than researching articles. There is a possibility of conducting a study at my place of employment where we are trying to determine why our own users are turning to wikis.

I don't have an outline plan of study or stages of my work.

There are ethical considerations, not for the statement but for the industry. As companies fail to act on the quantity of user-authored online help and allow it to become the accepted voice of the product, there could be legal and ethical considerations.

For example, a prominent blogger may post his or her favorite usage of a certain OTC medication. Say, they combine acetominophen with ibuprofen and they down it with a red bull and they profess this is the way to manage a headache, or something like that. The blogger's followers might try it and some may suffer consequences. Who is to blame?