Use Wikipedia: Library Databases vs. Wikipedia

How Wikipedia Can Help You

Advantages of Wikipedia include:

Gather Background Information

Wikipedia's varied subject matter and embedded links can be used to generate ideas and learn new terminology associated with your topic. However, you must recognize that you will need to consult and cite a credible source to verify the information you've found, such as a library database or encyclopedia. 

Generate Search Terms

Wikipedia can be used to help generate search terms to use in for searching in library databases. Take a look at the embedded links, bolded words, or items listed in the table of contents.

Consult Entries Bibliographies

Most Wikipedia entries will include a bibliography at the bottom of the page that details the various sources used to compile the entry. These resources could be helpful sources for you if they are compatible with the requirements of your assignment and are reliability.

Why Wikipedia Might Not Be the Best Source

While Wikipedia has its uses, there are reasons your instructors don't want you to cite Wikipedia in your assignment. These include:

Reliability

Because Wikipedia's content is user-created and contains no mandatory review process, users have no guarantee that the information presented is accurate and credible.

Authorship

Unlike other resources, authors are not required to provide credentials or other information indicating their expertise on a given subject area. This compromises the credibility of the entries.

Bias

Although Wikipedia works to maintain a neutral point of view, pages that have been recently edited or are controversial can be very biased.