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is wikipedia a reliable source??
so im doin a science project for acedmic fair and i was thinking about wat is a reliable source?
14 Answers
- 1 decade ago
Although wikipedia is often acurate, it is not considered reliable. In college, wikipedia is definently not to be used as a reliable source. I am guessing it would be the same for other places. If you have to cite your soures, I would highly suggest not citing wikipedia. At an academic fair, I really, really do not think that wikipedia is acceptable.
Encyclopedias and credible onlice encyclopedias will help. A website that has a credible author (like a professor or scientist) would be good. Science books and documentaries, like on The Discovery Channel are good too.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Yes wikipedia is usually pretty good, lots of info. Encarta is good too, but sometimes they will block if you are not a subscriber ($4.95 month), the service is worth the money, but I would also try OWL or Pioneer, as they can show you how to get into alot of college Libraries. If you are in school, look for a class in library literacy, it gives you a gift like no other, it can show you how to find almost anything you will ever think of looking for,
plus when I took it I received info on 5,000, yes FIVE THOUSAND DATA BASES that the average person doesn't even know exist. Knowledge is power, and it's a whole lot of fun, too. Tess
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- novangelisLv 71 decade ago
Wikipedia is not sufficiently reliable to be used as a single source. It is suffiecient to get a framework. Look up the references or verify the information before relying on it.
- samiracatLv 51 decade ago
Wikipedia is a tolerable STARTING POINT for looking at data, and the attached links for an article can be helpful, BUT you have to keep in mind that ANYBODY can edit Wikipedia....and put in any data they choose.
In terms of "reliable sources" that you can readily find in most public and school libraries (and that are pretty interesting): try checking out Scientific American (monthly)---check out the "Amateur Scientist" column, Science News (weekly newsbriefs), Smithsonian (monthly, I think), and National Geographic.
Don't forget to ask your librarians for help: they're the Not-So-Secret Masters of The Universe, since they control information.
Good luck on the project!
- DeeLv 41 decade ago
Wikipedia is ok, but it shouldn't be your only source. In fact, every article has a disclaimer saying that the info is user supplied and they don't guarantee the accuracy of the info. So always double check anything you get there.
- 1 decade ago
Wikipedia might not be thoroughly reliable as it can be edited by other people..You might want to find some other sources...
- 1 decade ago
Well, it is some-what reliable, but it is not 100% reliable than the books... It's pretty accurate sometimes, so I think they are about 95% reliable... Not sure..... ;
- fancynameLv 61 decade ago
Go to www.refdesk.com, there is a list of encyclopedias and dictionaries. Wikipedia has information but not all of it is verified.
- 1 decade ago
was an academic fair? wikipedia is ok for any random thing but for a report id look somewhare else. srry dont know whare