Wikipedia.com Reviews

www.wikipedia.com

Overall

3.52 of 5 (by 31 users)

add to my favorites email to a friend view more Reference Web Site Reviews

Wikipedia.com Review Summary

Want to look up some quick facts on a specific subject or topic? If so, then Wikipedia makes a good source for a quick fact search. Wikipedia is an on- line encyclopedia loaded with factual data and reviewers make mention of the contributions from the Wikipedia community and how diligently they work to add information to the site. Reviewers consider Wikipedia one of a handful of useful Reference Web Sites that can help complete a fact- finding mission. Because members add the actual reference content, there are some limitations to Wikipedia and the content cannot always be considered one- hundred percent accurate. But reviewers agree that Wikipedia makes a good starting point for official information on thousands of subjects.

	23%
	35%
	20%
	16%
	6%

81%

19%

Wikipedia.com Comparison

Most Helpful
Favorable Review

Great starting point for research or great site for fast answers

SEP

2007

Wikipedia is great as a starting point for research or for quick answers. In the same spirit as traditional encyclopedias, it isn't meant to be an in-depth authoritative reference on its topics, but sort of an overview. If you're looking for really in-depth information on something… read full review »

Likes to be entertained, interested in cultural experiences

redstarr
Fort Smith, AR

Most Helpful
Critical Review

I never trusted Wikipedia and now I can say I completely hate it

NOV

2007

Wikipedia is a free online Encyclopedia that has a lot of useful information. Ever wonder how "hot" the hottest peppers are? We did, and we found the results on wikipedia. Yes wikipedia is a good starting point for simple facts, yet I cannot recommend you use this site as a… read full review »

pretty quick with tech stuff, Every day computer user

vivasuzi
Livonia, MI

Wikipedia.com Ratings and Reviews

items/page: 15 | 30 | 50 displaying 1 to 13 of 31 sort by: most helpful | date | rating

helpful
votes

Here's why your teacher doesn't like you to reference Wikipedia.

expert web searcher, college lecturer, good eye for good data, will hit Wikipedia for leads

SEP

2007

All I could say was "Good grief!" when my son gave me a paper that started off, "According to Wikipedia . . ." — "Do you want to fail this class," I asked him. — "Well, no," he said. — I had to explain why Wikipedia is not considered a solid source in academic circles. — It's not that you can't find great information on Wikipedia. A lot of experts and fans do pop on and add to the knowledge base. I think that's great. So, I'm not knocking Wikipedia. It can be quite useful. — I often will click on Wikipedia as I begin to research a topic. Wikipedia often has good… read full review »

read 16 comments

CyndiA
southern, NC

helpful
votes

Good idea in theory - bad result

curious by nature, interested in cultural experiences, expert web searcher, good eye for good data

NOV

2007

I work in a college, and trying to show students that Wikipedia is NOT the answer to their research needs is very frustrating. I feel it is a losing battle to get students to use real, peer reviewed resources that have been accepted in academic circles. If you want to use Wikipedia for a fast and dirty look-up, that is fine. In fact I think that is the only way it should be used. Most libraries have subscriptions to online databases, like the Encyclopedia Britannica, and EbscoHost and others that are the sources teachers want to see cited in the students research papers.… read full review »

read 1 comment

Reviewer
Wayne, PA

helpful
vote

Relief, with a Caveat

curious by nature, a travel junkie

JUN

2007

Limited Purpose Web Site — If you're trying to remember the name of Bon Jovi's biggest hit in 1991....or whatever happened to American Idol contestant Elliott Yamin.....or what year Hurricane Charlie hit.......FINE. Go to Wikipedia. Relieve yourself of the burden of not remembering little trivia that is driving you crazy. Someone like yourself will have posted that information, and you can jog your memory. — But don't get in the habit of going to Wikipedia as a serious reference web site. Each listing is compiled and edited by a… read full review »

read 2 comments

LibbyMcMillan
Sanibel, FL

helpful
vote

Maxims For Using Wikipedia

curious by nature, expert web searcher

DEC

2007

Suggestions for using Wikipedia Intelligently — … read full review »

read 1 comment

stactom
Garrison, NY

helpful
vote

not worth my time.

curious by nature, a researcher, daily computer user, Practical

MAR

2008

NO NO NO NO NO! — — I some what recently graduated from college and it was DRILLED into my head never to use this site. It's your average everyday joe that can change the information. Sorry I don't rely on your average every day person. — — The history pages are the worst. It annoys me to see some of the things that people put in there. For instance the civil war was all because of slaves? Hardly. Was very unhappy with this site! — —… read full review »

read 1 comment

tiffanymtaylor
Farmingdale, NY

helpful
vote

Anyone can put anything on this!

curious by nature

NOV

2007

This site isn't great for telling the truth in a research paper, but it does have a ton of information on any topic you are interested in. It is easy to search and can help if you can't remember something. Good for basic information, but not for much… read full review »

write a comment

heatha
Las Vegas, NV

Rapid Research

curious by nature, daily computer user, a busy person

DEC

2007

How many times have you been having a conversation with a friend when all of a sudden you are trying to remember a specific date of something or who sang your favorite song? Well Wikipedia is a great site for a quick glance of research and a good place to start on your topic. You can find the answers to almost anything on the site, but I have to warn you that anyone can post to the site so the facts are not always true. For those students writing a research paper it is really tough for them not to rely solely on the information provided on this site because it is accessed so… read full review »

write a comment

stef42678
Las Vegas, NV

Take with a large grain of salt

wikipedian, curious by nature, a busy person, daily computer user, constantly online, expert web searcher, an avid reader

NOV

2007

Wikipedia, the bane of college professors and the darling of the cut-n-paste club. My personal favorite outlet for idle page surfing. — Personally, I like Oberlin College's approach. Some of their professors integrated Wikipedia into some of the curriculum by having students take an article from Wikipedia and research it. As they do that, the students develop discernment as they struggle to separate fact from fiction. It doesn't take long before the students learn to question what they read or hear instead of… read full review »

write a comment

Caladonia6
El Paso, TX

If you have a question, you can find an answer

a researcher, daily computer user, a busy person, practical

NOV

2007

Wikipedia is taking over the country. If you have a research paper due on a subject, the first place to look and get the background information would be wikipedia. It gives a very good explanation and summary of a lot of things, a very good replacement for those books that people used to use, encyclopedias? A lot better than anything like Encarta, because it is constantly updated and always with the latest information. The best part is it will have links, or the references for articles or other books where it got the information from. So when the teacher wants to know where you got your… read full review »

write a comment

soker9chik
Madison, WI

Great place for general information, but not serious research.

interested in cultural experiences, a busy person, good eye for good data, expert web searcher, a travel writer

NOV

2007

I travel and I admit, I love being a tourist. I am not one to research an area and find my own guides to take me to places that I have identified. Rather, I love a tour. I want all arrangements made and all sites identified. I just want to go and enjoy the experience. However, I see so many things and take so many pictures. When I return home I make a book of my trip. To find more details on what I have seen, or even to identify a picture I have taken, I turn to Wikipedia. Using the itenary of the trip and information given… read full review »

write a comment

smokey
Columbus, GA

Heresay that Sounds Intelligent.

an avid reader, Likes to be entertained, curious by nature, daily computer user, constantly online, a busy person, a researcher, Every day computer user

DEC

2007

The site can be helpful and can point you to valid references. It's not reputable, most teachers don't accept citiations from it. I taught two courses and explicitly said not to use it. It can make students lazy and libraries useless. It's an impediment to student skill building. But, during a storm or otherwise crummy situation, it's a nice last resort. You can find information on things not found in the library, such as people and incidents over the last few days or who otherwise would not be cited in something in a… read full review »

write a comment

vegbeauti
New Brunswick, NJ

A great starting point...

into the web, curious by nature, constantly online, daily computer user, interested in cultural experiences, will hit Wikipedia for leads, budget conscious

NOV

2007

I can't remember how I found out about Wikipedia but all I know is that not a day goes by where I don't at least briefly reference it. I don't use this as my solid fact sheet but sometimes you just need a quick jog of the memory to get going. I have found that it has helped with having links to other sites and has made my web browsing quite humorous. Sometimes just clicking from link to link I'll forget how I got to a page. Overall, if you're curious--it's a great first start...just don't make it the last… read full review »

write a comment

twinklehead
Los Angeles, CA

Great if you need a quick simple answer.

daily computer user, a busy person, Every day computer user

DEC

2007

I understand that this is not a site to begin and end a research project, but it is very good for a quick answer to a simple question, such as the capital of Albania. It also provides a good staring point for more elaborate research projects. It seems that whenever I type in some type of query, Wikipedia is the first thing to come up and 9 out of 10 times the answer I'm looking for is right there. So, with the caveats elaborated on by the other reviews, I… read full review »

write a comment

MARYTEE
Buffalo, NY

Reviews of Wikipedia.com

1 2 3

Wikipedia.com Reviews

www.wikipedia.com

Wikipedia.com Review Summary

Wikipedia.com Comparison

Wikipedia.com Ratings and Reviews

Reviews of Wikipedia.com

Top Rated Reference Web Sites