Many teachers do not accept wikepedia as a source. I was just wondering, do you use wikipedia when you're looking up information?
2006-10-13 02:51:11 · 15 answers · asked by ♥honey♥ 4 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
For just general knowledge, but given anyone can edit at anytime, you can't really consider it 100% accurate information.
2006-10-13 02:53:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I love Wikipedia. Although anyone can edit it, it's reliability is extremely high. If someone were to vandalize the page and insert false information, it usually gets reverted within 5 minutes.
There is an urban legend (usually spread by school teachers and professors) that you shouldn't use the Wikipedia because it is not an accurate source of information. This is simply not true. In fact, it is as accurate as the trusted Britannica Encyclopedia.
The truth comes down to this:
Nearly ever source of information is going to contain errors. Even peer reviewed resources are often going to contain errors. Books are going to contain errors. Errors can be found anywhere and everywhere. Here is something to keep in mind: Books are written by people, not god. Anyone can publish a book. Just because it's in a book in your school library doesn't mean the information is correct.
As for school papers, I wouldn't use the Wikipedia as a source. Why? Because many teachers and professors don't like it and won't accept it. Often, I will look up my information on Wikipedia, write my paper, and then find book "sources" to back up my information. Why do I do it this way? Because it's quicker and easier.
If you do it this way, don't worry. As long as you don' take a direct quotation from the article, you don't need to cite the Wikipedia as a source under the "GNU Free Documentation License".
"Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover Texts."
Working the system is fun.
2006-10-13 10:33:24 · answer #2 · answered by Kyle D 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wikipedia is the greatest encyclopedia! I use it, and I feel everybody should use it.
But since, it is prone to vandalism and temporary inaccuracy due to its editable nature, you should not cite it as your primary resource. Most of the wikipedia articles now mention the sources from where the information was collected. You should cite these sources instead of citing Wikipedia. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources
2006-10-13 10:57:38 · answer #3 · answered by Utkarsh 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
wikipedia is like a basic reference and cannot be considered as the final word. So better have a basic idea from wikipedia and go for more information from that...
2006-10-13 09:56:13 · answer #4 · answered by Rahul S 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Wikipedia is what it is - a free online encyclopedia. I look it up for info and some recent events if they get added. Most of the info isn't that too accurate but good nontheless.
2006-10-13 10:00:08 · answer #5 · answered by smashguy912 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I use wikipedia. Becuase anyone can edit it it's not allways 100% accurate. But it's good for getting definitions and basic info on a topic...
2006-10-13 09:57:29 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but everything I read in there I take with a grain of salt because, as you know, anyone can edit it and add to it at any time.
But, overall, I think Wikipedia is great!
2006-10-13 10:00:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes I do use it for reference for general knowledge. I would not use it as a source for a school paper or professional writing. It is and can be edited and altered by anyone, so it has some things I am sure that are not right.
2006-10-13 09:58:27 · answer #8 · answered by ColvinBri 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes! So far, all the information I've read on it is 100% reliable. Of course there is no verification professionals to confirm the data but their system seems to auto-regulate itself very well.
2006-10-13 09:55:20 · answer #9 · answered by juliepelletier 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i use wikipedia all the time, and im a high school student. it has all the info i need and all of my teachers have accepted it.
2006-10-13 10:00:15 · answer #10 · answered by <3life's_great<3 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋