Is Wikipedia an unreliable source?
2007-04-24 06:36:09 · 8 answers · asked by charmed_life421 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
It has been rumored that because *anyone* may contribute or update, its contents are to be taken with a grain of salt, and should at least be verified elsewhere.
2007-04-24 06:41:06 · answer #1 · answered by fjpoblam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A couple of (contested) studies have shown that Wikipedia is at least roughly as accurate as other encyclopedias. The community is quick to correct misinformation and vandalism. However, due to the simple fact that anyone can edit its pages, the site can never be 100 percent reliable. As an English teacher, I refuse to let my classes cite Wikipedia in their research papers. It's a wonderful starting point, but you shouldn't conclude your research there. Use the sources within the Wikipedia article. Click on the footnotes, and use that information.
2007-04-24 13:45:24 · answer #2 · answered by Michael 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Depends what you want to know. I use it for things like, "What group wrote all those songs in 'Saturday Night Fever'? Oh yeah, the Bee Gees, that was it!" Or for, "What was the Sherman Anti-Trust Act again? Oh yeah, anti-monopoly measure, that's right!"
But I don't look to Wikipedia if I need to know the causes of The Reformation, or for an evaluation of "Civilization and It's Discontents".
2007-04-24 13:55:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't say that it was unreliable but because it can be edited, check out your info before using it.Wikipedia can be very reliable.
2007-04-24 13:45:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Let's just say you don't want to quote it as a source in a research paper.
2007-04-24 13:42:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it can be. always check the source list at the the bottom before using it as any kind of literary source.
2007-04-24 13:43:39 · answer #6 · answered by kristin 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it can be haha but on the other side its very relialable ;) depends on how you see it i guess...
on one side its many people that work on it but on the other side that means anybody can edit it and make it say BS ;)
2007-04-24 13:40:37 · answer #7 · answered by dickerdiehl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No! Say it ain't so!
Seriosuly, I don't think so. Why do you ask? Did you hear something? :/
2007-04-24 13:40:37 · answer #8 · answered by judy bo-booty 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋