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Almost every college student knows about Wikipedia. In fact, Wikipedia is probably the first place any student visits to learn more about their research topic or even use in their research. However, most instructors frown upon Wikipedia because of one major flaw. The credibility of the persons who edited the page on Wikipedia cannot be ascertained nor verified. Hence, how can you claim that the information on Wikipedia is authoritative? It is my belief that Wikipedia can still be used and be your best friend, if you are smart about it.

Wikipedia is a great place to start

One of the things you must remember is that Wikipedia is a great place to start your research but not the whole story. Even I use Wikipedia to begin my research and I regularly refer to it throughout this blog. In my opinion, a world without Wikipedia would just plain suck; the same goes for a world without Google. The main difference between the Encyclopedia Britannica and Wikipedia is that the former uses authoritative sources and authors and is widely regarded as the de facto standard. Wikipedia, alternatively, is a community driven effort in which users like you and me have the power to edit, add, and delete information as we see fit. Hence, it is possible that the information on Wikipedia is doctored or untrue.

Pay close attention to the very bottom of any Wikipedia article

At the bottom of almost all Wikipedia articles is a “Notes” section. This is where authors cite their sources, if possible. Some articles will have extensive notes (see the image below) while others will have little to no sources. Depending on the topic you are researching, you may hit the jackpot for external sources or you’ll miss out.

The sources you see listed above are for the article pertaining to Julius Caesar. As you can see, there are over 20 sources - in fact the article has almost 60 sources. Before you claim that these are just endnotes, you have to understand that these are the places where authors made direct quotes or paraphrases and are crediting where they got the information from. It is your responsibility during your research to go ahead and learn more about these sources. If you deem the source credible, feel free to include it in your research. If you scroll further down on the article, you’ll see a “references” section. You can use the information here to also find more credible information.

Use your gut instinct and common sense

Sometimes the information will come from hobby sites or personal websites. Always remember to exercise common sense and good judgment. If you cannot verify a site’s credibility (e.g. you cannot tell if it is a personal website or a credible site) then exercise caution when using it. The external links that you see within a Wikipedia article are the links you should follow to find more information and determine credibility. However, always make sure that the information you cite comes from a credible source for any research assignment.

What if you don’t know what to do or no sources are listed

If you find that the Wikipedia article you are interested in does not have any sources, external links, no credible sources, or not enough, use Google. Google is an excellent search engine and can help you find the information you are looking for if you are patient. If you are in a hurry or are completely lost, email or contact your instructor. Although your instructors may seem clueless at times, they can point you in the right directions to help you find the information you are looking for. More often than not, they will tell you to visit the campus library and peruse the extensive databases that your school has access to. Just remember, the information you seek is out there, you just need to be patient and look for it.

How do you start your research? What are some tips you can share with a fellow college student? I would love to hear what your thoughts are.

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