To be clear, the link Richard references does not say that Wikipedia is not reliable. Here is the exact quote from the link Richard provided:
"Content from a Wikipedia article is not considered reliable unless it is backed up by citing reliable sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Identifying_reliable_sources. Confirm that these sources support the content, then use them directly."
This consideration is true of any resource, whether Wikipedia, a website, a printed book, a journal article or whatever. The issue is not Wikipedia but how folks do research. Personally, I find Wikipedia's reliability has only increased with time. Here is my argument on how Wikipedia is appropriately used as a scholarly research tool:
and here:
I conclude that the problem is not whether one uses wikipedia in their research or not, but how they are actually conducting their research. I agree that the Wikipedia pages are an excellent starting point for research.
Robert Connolly
On Thu, Feb 16, 2017 at 4:38 AM, Richard Nevell < richard.nevell@wikimedia.org.uk> wrote:
Hello Shriheeran,
I think if academics say Wikipedia can't be used as a source, we should say that's absolutely correct. The English Wikipedia has a policy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Wikipedia_and_sources_that_mirror_or_use_it which says that Wikipedia isn't considered a reliable source. Instead of citing Wikipedia, people can use it as a starting point for research.
Wikipedia is very open about where its information comes from, and even includes warning when articles might not be high quality. I can't think of another website which would include a warning to readers that one of its pages might contain a point of view, or might need more fact checking.
When you talk to academics about Wikipedia, is there anything in particular you're asking them to do?
Regards, Richard Nevell
On 16 February 2017 at 00:23, Wikimedia Among Scouts :Executive Director < shriheeran@gmail.com> wrote:
Just I had a meeting with an it acadamic professionalist, the things got from Wikipedia are not accepted as valid. Because they say that enyone can edit wikipedia. That's the reason.But I said to that references are given to each points there and temples such as citation needed are put in WIKIPEDIA. What do you think about this? I am from srilanka.
On Wed, Feb 15, 2017 at 1:15 AM, Kleefeld, John john.kleefeld@usask.ca wrote:
Colleagues, here is my fifth blog post, the first of a two-part set.
*WikiProjects, Article Importance, and Article Quality: An Intimate Relationship (1/2)* http://bit.ly/2lH9hjJ
And here are the links to the previous four, in reverse chronological order:
*Wikipedia’s Gender Bias – and What Your Students Can Do About It * http://bit.ly/2kOkSMC
*What Does It Mean to Say That “Anyone Can Edit” Wikipedia? * http://bit.ly/2jqMV5y
*How Students Are Learning Medicine and Collaborative Skills, And Transforming Wikipedia *http://bit.ly/2jt5fH7
*The Wikipedia Manifesto *http://bit.ly/2jGlAc1
Yours truly,
John Kleefeld
Associate Professor, College of Law
2017 Teaching Fellow, Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching Effectiveness
University of Saskatchewan
15 Campus Drive
Saskatoon SK S7N 5A6
tel: (+1) 306.966.1039 <(306)%20966-1039>
email: john.kleefeld@usask.ca
skype: johnkleefeld
twitter: @johnkleefeld
web: http://law.usask.ca/find-people/faculty/kleefeld-john.php
mission: http://www.usask.ca/leadershipteam/documents/president/Missi onVisionValues.pdf
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