Wikiwhat? Why relying on Wikis is a bad idea

Wikipedia has become something of a go to resource amongst students, educators and the media over the past decade.  Advertising itself as “The Free Encyclopaedia that anyone can edit”, its huge range of content and over 5.6 million articles have made it an indispensible first stop when looking to learn about anything online, not least helped by its high ranking in search results.   Covering everything from obscure TV shows to politics, science and philosophy, it’s hard to find a subject Wikipedia doesn’t have something to say about.

A phone is center screen displaying wikipedia in front of an actual library

Wikis, of which Wikipedia is on, are a form of web application which allow groups of people to create, add to, modify or delete the content, making them ideal for creating encyclopaedia like environments where specific topics can be discussed and information shared in depth by enthusiasts.  Besides the famous Wikipedia numerous other Wikiss are in existence, covering everything from gardening to Star Wars

However, the same openness that allows Wikis to flourish and draw upon the expertise of so many is also something of a weakness.  When Wikipedia talks about being the encyclopaedia anyone can edit, it actually means that anyone of any background can become a Wikipedia contributor, which means that people can add, modify or delete from wikis despite having biased views, a particular agenda or no professional knowledge about the topic whatsoever.  As a consequence, Wikis are often subject to graffiti and other damage from malicious users, requiring their administrators to maintain constant vigilance. 

Such disruption, when it occurs, is inconvenient to the typical student but can be relatively benign. For example, an article on Einstein’s Theory of Relativity deleted and replaced by an image of a flying pop-tart cat is not going to fool any but the densest student, most will know that something isn’t right and not accept it as written. But it is in the subtler details where real problems can arise and where those with hidden agenda, or particular views on a subject, can express their biases to misinform.

One way this can happen is through the “Edit Wars”, when contributors deliberately alter the content of a Wiki.  Controversial topics such as, but not limited to, President George W Bush Jr,  World War II and religion are frequent pages that are revised to suit the views of the person doing the revising.  However, the smaller areas of topics, where there are fewer individuals interested or knowledgeable to contribute in a topic, that are most affected by untrue claims and where false facts can run amock. 

Because the people writing and editing these articles could be anyone, there is little accountability directly for the information written.  This means, quite simply, that the article you are reading could be very, very wrong.  Furthermore, given that articles on Wikis are constantly subject to change, anything quoted from a page on Wikipedia could be very different by the time a later reader were to look at it.  This is why it’s regarded as a bad idea to quote Wikipedia during academic work. 

Don't Trust.  Verify. 

The wikipedia logo, a ball of interlocking puzzle pieces that represents human knowledge

That’s not to say that Wikipedia and other wikis are not a great source of information.  The vast number of topics covered and the wealth of links provided to specialist articles and sites on a topic make it an excellent starting point for any internet based research project.  But, as with any aspect of academic writing, it is essential that you take the time to verify what you are being told.

In fairness, Wikipedia and other similar sites do try to ensure impartiality on their sites and thus make use of protected pages and limiting the access of untrusted users.  Nevertheless, unless such sites are written exclusively by clearly identified and recognized authorities and experts on the topics in question, they shouldn’t be used by themselves as the sole source of authority by a student looking for a quotation for an essay.

Fortunately, (and conveniently) ADL offers it's Academic Writing course for free with any course purchased which will help you, amongst other things, with the academic referencing skills you'll need to make the most of your studies. 

LEAVE A REPLY

BLOG CATEGORIES

MOST POPULAR

Easter 2025 Opening Hours

Easter Opening Hours We will close on Thursday 17th April at 4.30pm and then re- open again on Tuesday 22nd April at 9am due to the Easter break. Feel free to email as normal or leave a message on live chat or on our answerphone 01227 789649 over the weekend and we will get back

Read More »

Christmas 2024 Opening Hours

Merry Christmas, here are the ADL opening hours for Christmas 2024: Monday 23rd December – 9am to 5pm Tuesday 24th December – CLOSED Christmas eve Wednesday 25th December – CLOSED Christmas DAY Thursday 26th December – CLOSED Boxing Day Friday 27th December – CLOSED Monday 30th December – 10am -4pm Tuesday 31st December – 10am

Read More »

At ADL we focus on helping you learn! You have the opportunity to interact one to one with our tutors, so you can approach learning in whatever way and speed that best suits you. This individual service not normally found at most colleges, contributes to successful learning. You decide how you wish to receive your

Read More »

Water Gardening Site Selection

Things to Consider When Selecting Your Water Garden Location Have you ever dreamed of building a Water Garden, but just didn’t know where to start?  ADL’s online certificate course in Water Gardeng provides the necessary knowledge and skills to help you get started. The first thing is to decide on the location of your water

Read More »

SIGNUP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Scroll to Top

REQUEST A CALLBACK

To speak to one of our course advisors, please enter your name and phone number below and click the "Please Call Me" button. We will call you back as soon as possible!

By submitting this form, I provide my consent to ADL to contact me via email or telephone, regarding the course I selected. All information provided is protected in conformity with our Privacy Policy.

CONTACT US

required fields are marked with *

By submitting this form, I provide my consent to ADL to contact me via email or telephone, regarding the course I selected. All information provided is protected in conformity with our Privacy Policy.