Research Guides: Research (Finding Information): Wikipedia

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, talks about the availability of information, keeping information current, and the "enlightenment" of our age and the future.

Wikipedia is great for quick reference, common knowledge information and the developers do work hard to ensure accuracy, but remember, caveat actor -"let the doer beware." Wikipedia is not appropriate for academic research; use your library databases containing peer-reviewed, scholarly research instead.

VIDEO: Why isn't Wikipedia a Reputable Source for Academic Research?
Explains why instructors don't allow Wikipedia as an academic reference source. (2:36)
VIDEO: How to Use Wikipedia for Background Material
College level research requires more in-depth source material and thought (like books and journals) than the overview of an encyclopedia.
VIDEO: Beginning Research with Wikipedia/Google, and Transitioning from Wikipedia/Google to Databases
Reviews the process of background research by introducing techniques for gathering background information using Google and Wikipedia.
Listen to Wikipedia
Sounds based on a real-time feed of contributions to Wikipedia articles. Edits by unregistered contributors are marked with green circles and edits by automated bots are marked with purple circles. Go ahead, make some noise by editing Wikipedia!