How can Wikipedia be unacceptable for school research but reliable for other purposes?

Because, contrary to what right-wing nut jobs would have you think, professors have very little influence outside the classroom, which is the only place where there are well-defined negative consequences for using Wikipedia. Actually, I suppose there is little harm in using Wikipedia when you're just going to forget what you read the next minute.

Now, if I may respond to a couple of the other answerers: the idea that teachers are in cahoots with textbook publishers is absurd. I chose one expensive textbook for my class this semester: where's my kickback? Also, writing a textbook is arguably the least appreciated thing a professor can possibly do. And I find it absolutely ridiculous that a free website can substitute for something that costs thousands of dollars and hours to obtain.

To shepstep: yes, textbooks contain mistakes. The difference is that the teacher has read (or should have read) the textbook and knows where the mistakes are. In the textbook I'm using, there is a page where digits are transposed in a couple of numbers, and a paragraph that is missing a few words for apparently no reason. I've told my students about those mistakes. But there is just no way I could keep track of Wikipedia articles in my field, nor could I predict which version my students have read and will come to me with questions about. Besides, the occasional dyslexia is the worst problem I've seen in textbooks, which is rather picayune compared to some of the whoppers you routinely see on Wikipedia.

And to Wilfredo: your theory of low self-esteem among students is interesting, but it doesn't hold water when you look at my students.

anyone can answer questions on wikipedia. These people arte not always reliable. For example, several years ago a person wrote many articles claiming to be a professor at a university. He ws actually a first year university dropout.

For school projects, use wikipedia, just dont reference it. There should be a list of useful websites on the page. Refersnce some of those.

It's because it is user based, meaning you and me can go post whatever we want on it no matter if it is true or not. This is the biggest reason why teacher do not like that site to be used as a source of information.

I'm sure if you ask any one of your teachers they will give you more examples as to why they will not allow it as a good source for any papers.

Wikipedia is completely reliable for all purposes. Only dumb heretics would dare suggest otherwise.

Nancy, yours is a very perceptive question. I have seen a case where misinformation about Abraham Lincoln persisted in Wikipedia for over 600 days, because some editor added the fiction with the lead-in, "Undisputed is the fact that…".

It would be comical, if only that millions of people are relying on this Wikipedia crap to help make important decisions in their research and in their lives.

It sounds like you're one of the few smart ones, though, who would never use Wikipedia for anything other than entertainment purposes.

Because of low self-esteem.

Students have low self-esteem. They spend extra money on buying fancy covers for their term papers, to show deference to their professor, when in fact those papers will probably be graded by GTAs who wouldn't think twice about eating pizza and drinking coffee over those papers. Likewise, they want to impress their professor with the best available sources.

But when it comes to information for their own personal use, they feel they have to settle for sources that are less valuable than what they would use for their professor. That's where Wikipedia comes in. If students had higher self-esteem, they would demand the very best sources for all their information lookup needs, and reject Wikipedia for any purpose.

Because only professors make a big stink about where you get your information. It matters, but it's rarely life and death.

think of it like the borg all information goes in and eventually the wrong goes out for good leaving the right behind

That's just another myth about Wikipedia.

You're right, it would be a lot easier to just make something up in those cases when you don't really care what the answer is. In fact, that will likely give you more accurate answers than using Wikipedia.

*eye rolls*

Wikipedia community is pretty fast regarding such obvious violations,

And that fact that anyone can change it (and that is encyclopedia) is that reason why schools don't allow it for research. (although you are welcome to use the sources that the Wikipedia page used. used)