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MERRIMACK COLLEGE
MCQUADE LIBRARY
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- Strengths and Weaknesses
- Wikipedia Strengths
- Wikipedia Weaknesses
- Further Reading
- McQuade Librarians Recommend
Wikipedia Strengths
Strengths
- "Wikiality"
Citizen authored content – anyone can create or edit articles. - Strong in areas of popular culture, current affairs and science
(seeI Want MyWikipedia!article published inLibrary Journal) - "Self-correcting"
Wikipediais constantly improving, as Wikipedians can correct errors in seconds!
With time, articles seem to get better and better. - Convenient
- Free
Many other online encyclopedias are not.
For more strengths see:
WhyWikipediais So Great
(According toWikipedia)
Wikipedia Weaknesses
- "Wikiality"
Are scholars or experts in the field writing and editing these entries? Take your chances.
Somewikipediacontributors haveeven faked their credentials! - Entries have errors
Entries may be disorganized, have duplications, and be inconsistent.
Take a look at thelonglist ofWikipediaarticles needing factual verification.
Wikipediaitself makesno guarantee of validity! - Not definitive
Founder Jimmy Wales notes, “It’s good enough knowledge, depending on what your purpose is.” - A work in progress
Wikipediadoes not declare any of its articles to be "complete" or "finished."
For more weaknesses see:
WhyWikipediaisNotSo Great
(According toWikipedia)
- Last Updated: Feb 10, 2023 3:50 PM
- URL: https://libguides.merrimack.edu/wikipedia_beware
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