Is Wikipedia A Credible Academic Source?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Wikipedia is not a reliable source for elsewhere on Wikipedia. Because it can be edited by anyone at any time, any information it contains at a particular time could be vandalism, a work in progress, or just plain wrong. ... Wikipedia generally uses reliable secondary sources, which vet data from primary sources.

Is Wikipedia considered an academic information source?

Wikipedia – Academic Use

Wikipedia is not considered a credible source . ... However, citation of Wikipedia in research papers may be considered unacceptable, because Wikipedia is not considered a credible or authoritative source.

How reliable is Wikipedia as a source for journalists and academic scholars?

Research studies have shown that Wikipedia is roughly as reliable as other sources commonly accepted as “accurate .” Arguably, the one to demonstrate this first was science journalist Jim Giles, who wrote a 2005 Nature article, “Internet encyclopaedias go head to head.” Giles combed through articles on both Wikipedia ...

Why should students not use Wikipedia?

It makes no sense : their reading and writing skills – and creativity – will never improve. It also makes them lazy. Since anyone can be an editor of Wikipedia's references, often the accuracy of its information cannot be verified. ... Students using information from Wikipedia might also be breaking copyright laws.

Is Wikipedia considered a credible source?

The online encyclopedia does not consider itself to be a reliable source and discourages readers from using it in academic or research settings. Researchers, teachers, journalists, and public officials do not regard Wikipedia as a reliable source.

Why Wikipedia is a bad source?

However, citation of Wikipedia in research papers may be considered unacceptable, because Wikipedia is not a reliable source . ... This is because Wikipedia can be edited by anyone at any moment. Although when an error is recognized, it is usually fixed.

How accurate is Wikipedia 2019?

They found that while Wikipedia articles were rated at 83.8 percent for completeness, the information published in the articles was 99.7 percent accurate .

Does Wikipedia Make Money?

Wikipedia makes money via donations, investments, as well as merchandise sales . In the future, it plans to launch an API that charges enterprises a fee for access to its data. Founded in 2001, Wikipedia has grown to become one of the world's most-frequented websites.

Is Ebscohost an academic source?

Designed for academic institutions , this database is a leading resource for scholarly research. It supports high-level research in the key areas of academic study by providing journals, periodicals, reports, books and more.

Should students use Wikipedia for research?

Students agree that Wikipedia may be the easiest to site to access information and it is especially helpful in history classes. ... The consensus is that students should be allowed to use the website to gather information as pages are, for the most part, fairly accurate.

What is the most reliable source?

Academic journal articles are probably the most reliable source of current thinking in your field. To be the most reliable they need to be peer reviewed. This means that other academics have read them before publication and checked that they are making claims that are backed up by their evidence.

Which media source is the most reliable?

Why Newspapers Are the Most Credible Source for News. According to the Institute for Public Relations' most recent Disinformation in Society Report, newspaper journalists rank as the least-biased, most reliable news source in the eyes of the American population.

What is the reliable source?

A reliable source is one that provides a thorough, well-reasoned theory, argument, discussion, etc . based on strong evidence. Scholarly, peer-reviewed articles or books -written by researchers for students and researchers. ... These sources may provide some of their articles online for free.

Who is Wikipedia owned by?

Wikipedia is a non-commercial website run by the Wikimedia Foundation , a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in San Francisco. We are supported by donations and grants, and our mission is to bring free knowledge to everyone.

What are the advantages of Wikipedia?

  • Can help you get started with a general idea of what a topic is about.
  • Nicely-organized and easy-to-use pages.
  • Cross-referenced to related information.
  • Wide range of information, much of which is becoming more reliable.

Why do students use Wikipedia?

Effectively navigating a Wikipedia article can provide students with an opportunity to learn about peer review, sourcing, footnotes, and internet research. It also teaches critical-thinking skills .

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.