2006-12-28 12:54:37 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
well, as untrustworthy as many hard copy encyclopedias are(many of them regurgitate the same errors and half truths edition after edition) wikipedia is probably as reliable as anything else that is decided by committee.
But the cautious would not limit their research to any single source.
booop!
2006-12-31 15:34:24 · answer #1 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Is the information on Wikipedia reliable?
Yes, if used properly. At the bottom of the page they list references to back what they say. Most people would assume that these references are real, and accept the information, but if you need the information to be accurate (academic research or legal precedents etc) then check the sources. This is true for any and all forms of media, though. Always ask "where did they get that information?"
I heard that you can change the postings...........is that true???
Yes, this is true. Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report asked his viewers to change endangered species articles to read "alive and well." He did this to prove a point, but Wikipedia was caught a tad off guard. Again, check sources.
Wikipedia is great to provide you with a quick overview of something, but remember not to trust it as the absolute truth.
2006-12-28 21:26:13 · answer #2 · answered by Kristi 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a junior/senior high school teacher, and I think Wikipedia is generally quite reliable. I encourage my students to start there and follow the links to other places. Some of you who answered before haven't been keeping up with developments (or simply don't know what you're talking about). If you really want to find out about Wiki's policies, please follow the link in sources below. I always encourage people to do their own research and not to rely overmuch on what other folks tell them is true (and that includes finding out who and how to change Wiki articles). Wiki is certainly not perfect, but neither is the Encyclopedia Britannica. Wiki is a great place to begin a search on a lot of different topics, but don't stop there. Follow the links. Google the topic and follow those links, too. Do your own research and think about what you're reading, no matter what the source!
"There has been controversy over Wikipedia's reliability and accuracy, with the site receiving criticism for its susceptibility to vandalism, uneven quality and inconsistency, systemic bias, and preference for consensus or popularity over credentials.
Wikipedia ... Visitors are allowed to add, remove, or otherwise edit and change its content ... Such contributions can be made without the need to register a user account... [That] means online vandalism of and disagreement about content are common.Wikipedia has a set of policies identifying types of information appropriate for inclusion... [see below, please] ... Following the introduction of a more user friendly citation functionality, since early 2006, articles increasingly include an extensive reference section to support the information presented in the article and to allow verification of the article.
Almost all visitors may edit Wikipedia's content; registered users can also create new articles. Changes made to pages are instantly displayed...
Some take advantage of Wikipedia's openness to add nonsense to the encyclopedia, which is called "vandalism".
However, a 2005 comparison performed by the science journal Nature of sections of Wikipedia and the Encyclopædia Britannica found that the two were close in terms of the accuracy of their articles on the natural sciences. [Britannica found serious problems with the study.]
A variety of studies to date have tended to suggest that some Wikipedia articles (scientific articles most notably) are of a similar degree of accuracy to Encyclopædia Britannica, that Wikipedia provides a good starting point for research, and that articles are, in general, reasonably sound. However, these studies also suggest that due to its novel editorial model, it suffers omissions and inaccuracies which can sometimes be serious. A separate study suggests that in many cases, vandalism is reverted fairly quickly, but that this does not always happen."
2006-12-30 01:52:31 · answer #3 · answered by peter_lobell 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, anyone can change the information on Wiki, but alot of people who change or add stuff are diehard fans of TV shows, or people who know alot about a certain subject. I use Wikipedia alot for college essays, and so far, I've never come across any incorrect information!
2006-12-28 20:59:49 · answer #4 · answered by MadisonH 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
many of the postings can be modified by anyone, some of the more sensitive pages (such as George Bush for example) are restricted, to prevent someone who s not a supporter from placing untrue or unflattering things. You must be registered to make changes, or your IP addy will be shown. The majority of information there is very reliable
2006-12-28 20:58:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've never heard of Wikipedia putting out false information. I think they have a pretty good reputation. They change their postings everyday.
2006-12-28 20:59:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
yeah it is true, anyone can edit it, but it is a system of checks and balances & it lists all the sources at the bottom of each page....so yes, it is very reliable and a lot of people use the information on Wikipedia.
2006-12-28 20:56:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Over it is just a "summary" with varied, often scattered "details" with no certain validity of its contents. Meaning I'd be careful if I was doing college level work and very careful if a graduate student.
It is not "peer reviewed" as most articles are in "academic" journals: no experts review the material.
One needs to verify before such as publishing any source they discover.
I find their "quotations" sections full of errors, I recommend that one use Brewer's or Cassell's for quotes rather than any of those "quote" websites.
But it is fast and for many of the questions on Yahoo Answer's, it works.
2006-12-28 21:09:27 · answer #8 · answered by cruisingyeti 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not. Information can be changed by anyone including yourself. I would never rely on it for truthful information, although it could be true there is always a chance it could be false. Professors from any college will tell you the same DO NOT use it for essays and research!
2006-12-28 21:00:16 · answer #9 · answered by Vivid Image 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yeah you can easily change the stuff, but i think it's pretty true, b/c w/ millions of ppl reading it, if something false gets put up, chances are someone'll change it. kinda like the federalist papers said - lotsa ppl involved means less likelihood of mistake
2006-12-28 21:15:50 · answer #10 · answered by tell me all!!! 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋