Evidence Based Post #2 - Wikipedia, Reliable Source?

Brandi Argentar
TIE 542

Evidence Based Posting #2 – Wikipedia, Reliable Source?


In my Biology class my students are currently working on Genetic Disorder projects. Included in the requirements are for them to use three reliable sources. These sources can come from print resources or online resources. My students keep asking me if I will accept Wikipedia as a reliable source? This class allows me to really look at this question.

Wikipedia is a free web-based content encyclopedia. The name Wikipedia is a combination of Wiki (a collaborative website) and encyclopedia. Wikipedia is an online reference source that unlike a paper reference source, Wikipedia can be constantly updated, with articles on topical events being created or updated within minutes or hours, rather than months or years for printed encyclopedias, based on information from Wikipedia’s website. Almost all reference sources can be updated by anyone. Wikipedia even writes in their ‘About Us’ section that, “Allowing anyone to edit Wikipedia means that it is more easily vandalized or susceptible to unchecked information, which requires removal.” and “Wikipedia articles generally attain a good standard after editing, it is important to note that fledgling, or less well monitored, articles may be susceptible to vandalism and insertion of false information.”1

The difficult part when using Wikipedia is determining what information is correct and what information is false. There is a very high instance of errors in Wikipedia. If one is doing research and needs factual information it is advisable not to rely on Wikipedia for your information. “Perhaps a more stringent registration process and a review of those allowed to make entries could prevent many false information entries,” states Angela Russell from The People’s Media Company.2

The bottom line is that whether we like it or not, or if it’s on purpose or not, Wikipedia contains errors and misinformation. Based on my research I will not allow Wikipedia to be counted as a source but I will tell my students that it might be a good place to begin.




1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
2Russell, Angela. Wikipedia: Useful Information or Unreliable Source? The People’s Media Company. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/180706/wikipedia_useful_information_or_unreliable.html March 2007