Wikipedia and academia have always been at war. The reliability of Wikipedia is often questioned and many educational institutions have banned its use for research. Even Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales warns students about citing it as a source.
However, if done correctly, Wikipedia can be a valuable research tool. It is critical to understand the difference between “using it as a reference” and “referencing it in academia.” The following helps visualize how Wikipedia can be used a research tool. For a complete guide on using Wikipedia for academia, download the free guide to academic use of Wikipedia.
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