Let me make this perfectly clear: Wikipedia is the greatest online encyclopedia resource anywhere in the world – in fact, the best ever in the history of mankind. How’s that for an endorsement?
Wait? What? Are you telling me that it’s OK to use Wikipedia to help me write my research paper and essays?
Yes and no…
But before I clarify such ambiguity, let me first delve into what Wikipedia is and what it represents (from here on in I’ll refer to it as “wiki” though the reader should be made aware that there are several different types of wikis in the world wide web. In this article, however, wiki refers to Wikipedia). Wiki is an online encyclopedia where millions of contributors provide its contents. This reality (I almost wrote concept) is nothing short of revolutionary. Wiki places the authorship of encyclopedic entries into the hands of the masses rather than at the fingertips of scholars. Wiki, thus, represents the democratization of knowledge, the collaborative efforts of millions, available in 283 languages, with over 21 million entries – and it grows everyday. The popularity of wiki continues to astound; for example, the latest data (March 2012) shows that wiki is accessed 2.7 billion times monthly in the United States alone. Unless the planet explodes, it is probably safe to state that wiki’s future leans toward the permanent.
Which is why I, mere History instructor, must address the pluses and minuses, uses and misuses of such a grand cyber pool of smarts. William Cronon, ace historian and current President of the American Historical Association recently wrote that while “the wide-open Wiki world sometimes harbors howling errors, even outright fraud, the overall quality of Wikipedia content is remarkably good.” In regard to error and fraud, we simply must admit: how could it not? The authorship of any wiki entry can be performed by any one and at any time. The only aspect that keeps the quality of wiki’s entries “remarkably good” is the rampant self-policing performed by the very masses that erred and committed fraud in the first place.
Stated simply: we must bear in mind that when we access wiki we access human fallibility. All humans are capable of fraud and error (scholars included) and we must search for these foibles when utilizing wiki as a tool of research. We must ask why particular entries exist. We must seek to understand what motivated some person to – without pay – research (hopefully), write (clearly), and post an entry opening up their work to review, scorn, ridicule, and other possible forms of cyber bullying. But we must not take faith that prior to our reading of an entry, copious amounts of self-policing already occurred so that the very article we are reading is as near sacrosanct to the truth as any medium made available. In other words we must do three things when reading any wiki entry…
- Ask “why is this entry here?”
- Understand the motivation behind the entry
- Doubt the entry’s truthfulness
If you can do this every time you read a wiki, you can actually use wiki to your research advantage.
What you should come to understand – and comprehend quickly – is that your purpose and wiki’s purpose are diametrically opposed. Your work – in the words of William Cronon – is to seek a “deeper, richer, more integrated knowledge” of the world, past societies, and how and where you fit in. Wiki’s job is to provide short, quick, and hopefully accurate entries which, unfortunately, are almost nearly devoid of any context. Wiki is, after all, just an encyclopedia.
To my current and future students: wiki – like your textbook – is but the beginning of a conversation. If you use wiki correctly, and I know you will, you will find that wiki points you to other primary and secondary sources for further research and reading, provides links to other websites on the same topic, and publishes a list of citations that can also guide you toward “deeper, richer, [and] more integrated knowledge…”
So no, you must never cite wiki as a source. But yes, use and abuse this cyber encyclopedia to give you necessary background, to fill in some knowledge gaps, and, more importantly, to guide you to places where you can conduct research and cite sources that count. You may, after all, sign up to become a member of wiki, and start making entries of your own, or better yet, become one of those wiki-cops policing the site for error and fraud.
joehistorian 
March 6, 2012 at 10:16 am
Nice! I will use this as a resource for my students when we do research assignments. Wikipedia is too important of a source to ban it from use, but we must teach our students to use it critically – good practice for the rest of the internet, actually!
March 6, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Hello Jori,
I am so not opposed to having this article reviewed by your current and future students.
March 6, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Joe, I am totally stealing this for future later use. 🙂
March 6, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Of course, and you get the full discount, too!
March 6, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Just make sure you cite your sources…
August 13, 2012 at 10:30 pm
I love wikipedia. I don’t know how people lived without it.
I learned how to cite sources well in English so i’m happy about that. Don’t write anything without citing your sources. Plagiarism isn’t something you want to do.
August 14, 2012 at 7:09 am
And it is a great research tool!
August 14, 2012 at 10:46 am
If Only other instructors looked at wikki the way Professor Krulder does, all that essay writing for previous classes would have been a little easier. Professor Krulder makes a good point, its not always a reliable source, but it can definitely help you out with ideas.
I was forbiden to go wikki, the instructor said she’d give us an F on the paper if we used it! She sacred me straight. I didn’t ever use it after that.
I haven’t used it in so long, that I probably wont bother with it. Or will I?
August 14, 2012 at 11:30 am
You should use it. You better use it. Such a great research tool.
August 14, 2012 at 11:09 am
I appreciate your insight (professor Krulder). I work with high school students, and am myself a college student, so research is a given. However, before reading your article on Wiki, I never even considered using Wiki as a resource.
The schools teach that Wiki is a place where liars meet and post whatever they want, without thought to doing research themselves before posting on any one topic.
Hopefully, I will learn to follow your three steps and be better equipped to use Wiki as a tool instead of avoiding it completely.
August 14, 2012 at 11:30 am
Definitely use the wiki. I do!
August 14, 2012 at 6:34 pm
I personally feel like Wiki is a great tool to begin your research. I know Wiki is not an acceptable “creditable source” however, it will most likely point you in the right direction. From my past experiences with Wiki, the information has been reliable. As in any research assignment, you should also back up your argument with several creditable sources. I use Wiki often for general information along with assisting in my schooling.
I enjoyed reading this article by Krulder, as it made me question where I obtain my research information to ensure the source’s information is accurate and trustworthy.
August 15, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Great comments, reliability is so important. I often find myself reaching to wiki when someone throws something at me that I have not heard of before. For example, I never heard of the Monmouth Rebellion in the UK in 1685, until just a few weeks ago. Looked it up on Wiki to get some background, and then followed some of the links that Wiki provided. Now I am one informed historian!!!
August 15, 2012 at 10:59 am
This is a great entry. I have often thought of Wikipedia exactly like this. It is best not to believe most articles on the internet without caution and further research to verify its correct. Again great entry!
August 15, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Always questions the sources… (although, I admit, that I always don’t… but most of the time I do!!!)
August 18, 2012 at 8:59 pm
I am also taking statistics this semester and the theme so far for both classes seems to be “always consider the source”. I am very pleased know that wiki is not totally banned from this course!
August 19, 2012 at 8:46 pm
To ban wiki is unrealistic. To understand how wiki works, who writes the copy, and how to abuse wiki to cough up better sources – now that’s reality.
December 18, 2012 at 5:29 pm
I think the admin of this web site is genuinely working hard in support of his web site, for the
reason that here every data is quality based information.
July 14, 2013 at 5:01 am
My brother suggested I might like this web site. He was
totally right. This publish actually made my day. You can not consider
just how a lot time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
January 28, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Thanks!
January 28, 2014 at 11:22 am
I find this wonderful! Because ever teacher I have had, has banned Wikipedia in all, saying never to use it and never to trust what information is on there. I find this to be a very intriguing point of view that allows students to broaden their wide search even more. I thank you for sharing your opinion and giving your students more options, but still having them be smart about it!
January 29, 2014 at 8:35 pm
Smart is wonderful!
January 28, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Wiki is a tool, that’s all. And it’s a great tool for further research! We’ll talk about it more, and soon! Thanks for the kind words.
January 28, 2014 at 6:35 pm
Great article. It was upsetting when I was told not to use Wiki for any research paper because some of the sources are misleading, but I do still use Wiki here and there for my own personal use or for a quick search. Thanks for sharing.
January 29, 2014 at 8:35 pm
Don’t forget. Wiki is a great pointer to more… and more is good!
January 28, 2014 at 6:47 pm
I completely agree with you. I’ve always wondered where wiki received its information and its almost like an extreme yahoo answer page. The website is very helpful to me now and in past time but the information can definitely be misleading which is disappointing.
January 29, 2014 at 8:34 pm
Very cool.
January 29, 2014 at 8:50 am
I’ve used Wiki all throughout high school and part of college and I can honestly say it has very indeed benefited with the the information it provides. One thing I never really knew about was the other primary and secondary resources that are on the site to further get in depth about what you are searching for or that some of the information provided may not be necessarily right. This website was awesome, now I can even get into further detail on my research and be more cautious about what I read.
January 29, 2014 at 8:34 pm
Glad you now know about those links. It’s where the real fun is located!
January 29, 2014 at 11:28 am
Its nice to know that Wiki is not banned and rather yet allowed to use, with caution of course. Its almost harder to me when it is banned because when I use wiki I usually use those websites that they offer on there to dig deeper and that is where I get a lot more information from, so I am glad that I am still allowed to do this. Thanks for this reading!
January 29, 2014 at 8:33 pm
You’re welcome. And good research!
January 29, 2014 at 4:03 pm
You’re the first teacher I’ve had that is not totally opposed to wiki. Like you said, wiki can be used to point you towards useful informational sites that are acceptable to quote from. I’m glad I read your article.
January 29, 2014 at 8:33 pm
I’m glad you read it, too!
January 29, 2014 at 4:35 pm
I always had teachers in high school telling me “not to ever use wiki” so I never did till now, I don’t use it. After reading your blog, I am going to give wiki a try. (:
January 29, 2014 at 8:32 pm
Yes. Another convert!
January 29, 2014 at 5:28 pm
I think that the author makes a really good point. When I use Wikipedia I use it to get a foundation on the thing I am researching and then find other sites to get more information. But I have never thought to use wiki as finding more credible sources and by looking into the other websites they have linked on the site. It might make researching a lot easier as well as help find information we might not find in any other case! I’m glad that wikipedia can be good too. Not just bad like most teachers and professors say.
January 29, 2014 at 8:32 pm
That’s exactly it! Wiki is a great research tool.
January 29, 2014 at 8:01 pm
This blog has convinced me that wiki is not as bad of a website as I have been told from previous teachers. It can be a useful tool when used correctly. It can help us find other credible sources on a topic that we may want to research. It seems like Wiki will be a good place to start when researching a topic,
January 29, 2014 at 8:31 pm
you’re right, it’s just a pointer.
January 29, 2014 at 8:02 pm
Reading this article reassured me that it is in fact okay to use Wikipedia when stuck on an assignment that you need a quick answer to. Let’s just not mistake that for the okay to use Wikipedia to copy and paste into your assignment when you are stuck between the first sentence and the conclusion to your essay! Like Nidia Espinoza said above, my high school teachers also discouraged the use of Wikipedia with the argument that it is just a compilation of answers that come from regular people and not factual information from professors or textbooks, boy were they wrong, sorta. Anyways, thank you for clearing this up for all of us and giving Wiki a positive review. 🙂
January 29, 2014 at 8:31 pm
Let’ hope for no copying and pasting (like I wouldn’t notice…)
January 29, 2014 at 10:01 pm
You are the first teacher or professor that I have had that has even suggested typing in the word “Wikipedia”. I don’t believe my other teachers ever said the word without a negative tone in their voice. But, what could it hurt? Might as well give it a chance.
January 30, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Well, what can I say. I’m right…
January 30, 2014 at 5:52 am
I have also been taught to NOT use Wikipedia as a primary source. I have however, used wiki to find primary sources and find it a good go when in need of some quick background information.
January 30, 2014 at 12:56 pm
There ya go. Works great!
January 30, 2014 at 10:24 am
This was a great blog entry to read. I, also, have been taught to not use wiki so I haven’t really ever checked it out that much. I will in the future!
January 30, 2014 at 12:56 pm
Abuse the Wiki!!!
January 30, 2014 at 11:01 am
It has been a pleasure getting to know you as the instructor of this course. However, I do plan on using wiki as one of my many sources for looking up credible info. on a certain topic. As long as I am able to cite the source by using the correct method. Despite that many instructors lecture students about Wikipedia not being a credible source for any kind of research.
January 30, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Just can’t cite the wiki… Use wiki to find other credible sources – it’s powerful!!!
January 30, 2014 at 11:32 pm
One thing that I have learned from my time spent in college is that the knowledge and information you acquire is never absolute. You must always consider bias and differentiating opinions and perspectives. It doesn’t matter what source you’re investigating, whether it is from a textbook or documentary or a dissertation, there is always room for error and need for further investigating. Furthermore, there is a constant stream of new information being presented to you and it is your responsibility to take that which you already know and compare it to what you learn, then form your own assessment. Thus, I agree that Wikipedia can be a useful tool for researching topics that you might have had little or no prior knowledge about. It is a great place to start and it can help you to understand what you need to investigate further.
January 31, 2014 at 10:34 pm
You got it! Bias and all…
January 31, 2014 at 7:49 pm
My teachers always told me that I should not use Wiki to do research, but now that I know that Wiki can lead me to the primary or secondary source i will be using it more.
January 31, 2014 at 10:33 pm
Good for you!
February 1, 2014 at 4:07 pm
I think that Wikipedia is an incredible tool: it essentially allows anyone to publish information. This gives us access (potentially) to a wide basin of human knowledge, inaccessible before the internet, and before Wiki was established. I really appreciated Mr. Krulder’s article because it does not ignore the idea that Wiki is an instant learning tool that, when viewed through an appropriately shrewd lens, can unlock vast databases of information. I’ve found in my personal experience that the citations within the text often lead me to many new articles and credible studies that I can use in biology research.
February 2, 2014 at 12:49 pm
Wikipedia is an amazing tool for information for just about anything! What a lot of people don’t quite understand however is that anyone can edit the site, maybe making some ‘Facts’ untrue, or told in the opinion of the writer, but when you look for all of the sources sited by Wiki that opens up an entire new world of resources for you to study from.
February 2, 2014 at 2:05 pm
The question of “why is this article here” may be the most important one asked. If you never question the intent of material you will often be misled. For example, the old food pyramid used for years suggested that people eat vastly more grains than any other food group. Recent studies have shown that is not the case if you wish to lead a healthy life (while you should still eat grains, no doubt), but the pyramid was funded by farmers looking to sell their product. That being said, I recently took a class with a man who wrote an article on wikipedia about reindeer hunting in Greenland I believe. His only intent on creating the article was to share the knowledge he had gained over years of hunting in Greenland and to provide an accurate page for those needing this information. He had no motives other than the fact that the page did not exist and knowing that intent, as well as talking to the man, make me confident that the article is accurate. The existence of an article should always be questioned when looking at one and I think that is a great series of questions you offer students to use in their research.
February 2, 2014 at 2:12 pm
This was incredibly helpful. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve been marked down for citing wiki on papers, because I had no idea that wiki could lead you to a secondary sources. Many of my classes have frowned upon the idea of wiki, but there have been times when I have been desperate for some sort of research, and wiki seemed to be the only place I could find it. From now on I can ditch the worry of trying to find helpful sources other than wiki!
February 2, 2014 at 2:13 pm
I really like the last two paragraphs, and was told by my English teacher the same thing last semester. The website is a great jumping point if you go through the sources. I have found many studies to help my case in papers simply by using references from Wiki. A great tool if used properly.
February 2, 2014 at 2:30 pm
This is a great article! My teachers/instructors throughout high school, and my few semesters of college have mostly banned using Wikipedia for papers. I now see that It is actually useful if used correctly.
February 2, 2014 at 2:31 pm
^^(just added my last name) ^^
This is a great article! My teachers/instructors throughout high school, and my few semesters of college have mostly banned using Wikipedia for papers. I now see that It is actually useful if used correctly.
February 2, 2014 at 2:34 pm
I love that you are encouraging us to begin with Wiki because most teachers hate it but I completely agree it’s a great starting point with any essay. Also it has been difficult in the past to hear from teachers that it is a horrible site. I understand we cant site it but it is very helpful if you would like to find information to get you closer to your main topics. Fantastic!
February 2, 2014 at 3:00 pm
It threw me off guard hearing a teacher promote wiki as to speaking ill of it. But from reading this and listening to your discussion on it, I’ve felt like I’ve learned to use it better as I see wiki in a brand new light. Thanks for providing that for me.
February 2, 2014 at 5:58 pm
This article was an easy quick read for good advice on the use of Wiki. It’s almost as if Wiki is just a port to connect you to more information on a research subject. I have done this many times, in fact I will more often than not skip the main reading and head straight for the sources at the bottom of the website.
February 2, 2014 at 7:08 pm
This article was short and to the point 100%. I have never heard of a teacher who likes their students using Wiki, but the way you just explained it was amazing. It really changes my outlook on this website and hopefully help me a lot with researching because I was never able to use this in high school.
February 2, 2014 at 8:38 pm
I have always used Wiki as a link to other verifiable sources. It’s nice to see a teacher who sees the value of using Wiki as a resource for gathering sources.
February 2, 2014 at 9:12 pm
I’ve always thought wiki was a great resource to have when working on research papers; not citing wiki itself, but the sources that are cited on the wiki page which can direct you to good websites to use for research. The article makes a great point as you are not using wiki to cite, but instead using it to give a you a start on where to look for primary and secondary resources which can relate to the topic you might be researching..
February 2, 2014 at 9:28 pm
Since I started college back in 2002 I was told that wiki is not reliable and not to use it. Since that things have changed and if you know how to use it, it can be really useful. The info you can get from this cite can help you explore new and exciting sites.
February 2, 2014 at 10:17 pm
I have always been told by every single teacher that I have ever had to not even go to the wiki page. You are the first teacher that I have ever seen or heard of endorsing wiki. I am glad that I now know that it is just the beginning to so many more very credible sources to reference.
February 2, 2014 at 10:49 pm
Every single teacher I have had throughout my schooling has told me to not use wiki for research. I was always convinced it was a bad way of doing research until reading this article. I think if more teachers were more open minded about the resources that wiki has then they would recommend it for their students aswell.
February 8, 2014 at 12:36 pm
thanks joe, wiki has a lot to offer and i like that it has other great links you can access from it
August 24, 2014 at 7:22 pm
I’ve been using wiki for years as a “concept grabber” for various academic, personal, and career-gathering projects. The works cited section has proved useful links to other sources that I’ve used in papers. Thanks for the informative and controversial blog! I am also a wiki-user 🙂
August 25, 2014 at 6:40 am
Thanks for checking this article out!
January 30, 2015 at 9:30 pm
As one of your elder scholars this semester, i want to thank you for sharing your time and knowledge. Your style and delivery of information is appreciated. As my friends say at happy hour ” it’s not always the story but the way you tell it”. I’m sure with my having been around awhile, I will at times convey my thoughts will be like an old signal man in the navy…lots of arm waving and movement to get my message across.I am not as fast and powerful as “Wiki” but I have my two cents to add to the pot. Looking forward to working with you.
January 31, 2015 at 10:15 am
Thanks for this! You totally made my day. Looking forward to a great semester.
August 22, 2016 at 12:54 pm
I myself have used Wikipedia to help start off a lot of research I have done. It is a great way to help you formulate some questions when reading the entries, then solidifying or negating them when you read the actual source. Great article!
August 24, 2016 at 6:14 am
Hee’s to a successful semester!
August 22, 2016 at 5:29 pm
Your blog has a bunch of good points, and I have made use of the links in Wikipedia throughout my educational schooling. Though I disagree that it is abusing the website, as abuse has a negative connotation. It is as you have stated, simply using the tools at your disposal to the best of their abilities. After reading this, I look forward to what else you have to say during this semester.
August 24, 2016 at 6:13 am
Yes, abuse does have a negative connotation – used for effect, you know, rhetoric!
August 23, 2016 at 9:43 am
You’ve got to use Wiki! Use the heck out of it to reach real hidden gems.
August 24, 2016 at 6:12 am
Absolutely
August 23, 2016 at 9:03 pm
Read it 🙂
August 24, 2016 at 6:12 am
Any feedback?
August 24, 2016 at 5:05 pm
It’s helpful to know you can research something on wiki and from there have a vast number of sources to obtain from the subject you’re searching. It makes it much easier to access a bunch of information on a single subject quickly and from then expand on your research based off of those sources wiki has provided. Thanks Dr. Krulder!
August 27, 2016 at 3:58 am
Exactly, as a tool, wiki makes finding further resources immensely quicker
August 24, 2016 at 5:36 pm
I have never thought of Wikipedia as a place to look for other sources, thank you Dr. Krulder for your insight!!
August 27, 2016 at 3:59 am
Thank you, Paige!
August 24, 2016 at 7:21 pm
I totally agree with you that using wikipedia shouldn’t be frowned upon. I use it all the time in the same way that you state students should use it
August 27, 2016 at 3:59 am
Awesome. You’re an expert!
August 24, 2016 at 9:10 pm
Wiki is an incredible tool that consistently picked at till its perfection. I feel like your point of view is to read and understand the information that wiki may provide but still keep your guard up because wiki is not a credible source regards of that high chance of the information being correct.
August 27, 2016 at 4:00 am
Correct. Bias is a b***
August 24, 2016 at 9:36 pm
I personally have always been a fan of Wikipedia, often defending it when people mocked it, but I never realized that wiki redirects you to other great sources about the subject you’re looking up! pretty cool. Looking forward to using all the advantages wiki has to offer in your class.
August 27, 2016 at 4:00 am
Great. I’m glad you now know how wiki works. I’m certain you’ll take advantage of that.
August 24, 2016 at 10:40 pm
I have thought since about 3rd grade that Wikipedia was extremely frowned upon by all teachers but I see now how we could use it to be able to find good references and be able to see that which we are missing on a topic.
August 27, 2016 at 4:01 am
I look forward to seeing what you find with the wiki tool!
August 25, 2016 at 8:22 am
I grew up with teachers always announcing to “never use Wikipedia.” After reading this blog, I’ll give it a try.
August 27, 2016 at 4:02 am
Terrific! You’ll be a better researcher for it.
August 25, 2016 at 9:14 am
I feel like Wiki is great. And just like you said how wiki makes mistakes. And i think how couldn’t they? They are a free service so how could they not screw up sometimes. I am looking forward to use wiki in your class and guide each entry by your 3 steps.
August 27, 2016 at 4:03 am
Awesome. Keep your guard up to wiki mistakes, but follow the leads to more thorough research. Perfect!
August 25, 2016 at 12:02 pm
I was always told never use wikipedia by some teachers, and some teachers well they told me to go for it just cite my sources. funny thing is i never saw this as a research tool or a helpful tool just because i had gotten so many mixed reviews but i think ill use wiki now more since i read this blog thanks very much
August 27, 2016 at 4:03 am
Thank you, Amanda!
January 19, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Pretty straightforward. I always use Wikipedia to look up any new idea I come across to do my general research, then I further my research by going onto more reliable sources.I usually look to Wikipedia when researching different schools of thought. It’s easy to compare and click on the blue links it gives to further read about a certain word associated with that idea. I love Wikipedia for how convenient and easy it is to use, but would not use as a source on an essay. Good stuff.
January 22, 2017 at 4:05 pm
Hello professor. When I was in your History 17A class, I used Wikipedia to get more background information for a certain topic. I scrolled down to the bottom of the article and I found some links and additional articles that helped broaden my understanding for this topic. This links and additional articles are very helpful and the best part is that one could cite these website articles. Thank you for sharing with us the smart way of using Wiki. I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.
January 23, 2017 at 9:10 pm
Thank you for this enlightening blog! It has given me a better understanding of how to utilize Wikipedia for research. I look forward to History 5 tomorrow!
January 24, 2017 at 3:24 pm
The funniest part about this post is that I have never even gone that far down a Wikipedia article to notice the sources used. I normally use Wikipedia outside of academic settings to look up sports stats or quick trivia facts. I have always been told to NEVER use Wiki as a source. It has gotten a terrible reputation in the academic circle, but through these steps I do see how it can be very useful and effective.
January 25, 2017 at 10:02 am
I really appreciate how this articulates the usefulness of Wikipedia. Too often, students and teachers (myself included) tend to generalize how fradulicious this wiki can be, while failing to acknowledge it’s usefulness and how beneficial it can be to the academic community.
January 25, 2017 at 9:31 pm
I never knew wiki could be very useful and helpful to find sources for research if it is used correctly. Especially since every professor or teacher I’ve had would always to never use wiki.
January 26, 2017 at 8:32 pm
I appreciate that the author, like most all other instructors, does not want Wikipedia cited as a primary source. But what I really like was how author stated he believed that Wikipedia is a good place to get introduced to a topic. What I hadn’t realized, many of wiki’s entries have citations to credible primary and secondary sources, the stuff we want to use in our research. Very useful to know for all classes, not just this History class!
January 27, 2017 at 12:01 am
I’ve always enjoyed Wikipedia for school related and non-related research, but In all the time I’ve used it I hadn’t even thought to use the pages’ own sources for research after reading this it seems so obvious. Your post has helped me in understanding how to use Wikipedia correctly, and more to its potential.
January 27, 2017 at 8:02 am
Wiki is worth using for gathering more information to help support a source someone might cite. Also it is open to the public to use also. So if enough people use it, the information will become more trustworthy from the non-accurate entries. I find wiki to be very useful and has a great structure for freedom on use on it. It makes people want to correct and regulate more as a community.
January 27, 2017 at 1:31 pm
I’m so glad that I read this article. Using Wiki would help me immensely when I do research for all my future papers. Thanks for giving me the knowledge to use Wiki as a new research tool.
January 28, 2017 at 4:20 pm
This article is very informative and enlightening. Despite having teachers and parents encourage me not to use Wikipedia, I often would check it for extra information and sources. This will be the first time a teacher has instructed me to use Wikipedia as a resource for finding other sources, and I am grateful for it. I am excited to find websites and resources I would not have found otherwise because of this article.
January 30, 2017 at 8:51 pm
I have always treated wicki as non-trustworthy, but now I stand corrected.
February 2, 2017 at 1:32 pm
I have personally never used wiki before and I must say it is because of every teacher i have had has been against the use of wiki. I find this class will be very interesting as we will get to use and abuse wiki to help find reliable sources for research.
February 9, 2017 at 7:36 pm
My bio teacher last semester said I should start doing this too. I love it! I almost always start my searches with wiki and end up, god knows where. I get lost in it because I keep clicking on other sources.
August 14, 2017 at 7:07 pm
My high school teacher’s always told me never to use wiki and so did all of my college professors. Before even reading this entry I already used wiki as my foundation of my research. I feel like this just motivated me to use wiki even more.
August 15, 2017 at 8:31 am
Use it to help point the way to places you can actually cite!
August 14, 2017 at 7:48 pm
I highly regard your perspective on a very valuable resource. I think it is refreshing to know that a respected historian appreciates the value that Wiki can provide if used properly. Especially, when everyone throughout my educational career had discouraged its use.
August 15, 2017 at 8:32 am
Definitely a valuable resource.
August 15, 2017 at 8:11 am
Thank you for the insight to look at the sources of wiki. I was taught never to use wiki so now I will just use its sources.
August 15, 2017 at 8:33 am
As long as you use the Wiki as a research tool, wiki will become invaluable to you.
August 15, 2017 at 9:52 am
i find that wikipedia is a horrible source, that it is not a reliable and has to many flaws in it. i find it never to be trusted, and that if we use it to much that it will cause you to get an f. that there are to many people that change words, and meaning. so if that what you get to get you and bad grade,m and more confused on your test and what you are trying to explain/. also its just to much intreperperted of other peoples and thoughts and not your own. this is matthew clark from history 5b in yuba college, mondays, and wednesday form 10-11;15
August 15, 2017 at 6:34 pm
Well, it’s endorsed by the American Historical Association and Professor Bill Cronon who was its president. I’ll show you how to use it as a research tool, which is really what I want you to use it for. Wiki will speed up the research process by a factor of ten!!!
August 15, 2017 at 3:02 pm
I was never one to use wiki, until I took your History 5A class. I never understood how to use it. Now I have come to find it very helpful in my school work. Thanks
August 15, 2017 at 6:34 pm
I’ll teach it soon! Wiki is a terrific research tool.
August 15, 2017 at 4:53 pm
I have to agree with your statements about Wikipedia. I’ve been using it for research projects since I was in middle school. I have learned that you can’t always trust the sources 100 percent but it is a good starting point in finding the information you are looking for. What even better is, is most articles on wiki have the sources on the bottom which you can follow and examine for yourself.
August 15, 2017 at 6:43 pm
Exactly (nothing is 100%)
August 15, 2017 at 5:07 pm
Hi Joe! Using Wikipedia in this way is a great way to find additional resources! I used this technique in the past and it has really helped me find additional information. Thank you for sharing this information with us!
August 15, 2017 at 6:44 pm
Glad it worked for you!
August 15, 2017 at 5:17 pm
WOW! I am amazed that such a website can do many things, back in highschool my teachers would tell me not to use wiki but now that i have read this article i will surely make use of wiki for researches and many more things. -Kangbao Xiong MW 10:00-11:15
August 15, 2017 at 6:45 pm
Excellent, KB! Wiki will take you far…
August 15, 2017 at 5:22 pm
I think Wikipedia is great way to lead you to much more reliable information on the subject you are looking up. I’m glad there are professors out there who don’t look at Wikipedia as an awful thing full of lies.
August 15, 2017 at 6:45 pm
Exactly, Austin!!!
August 15, 2017 at 8:18 pm
The fact that no other teacher/professor I’ve ever had has openly expressed their love for Wikipedia scares me. I’ve always thought of Wikipedia as a beginning site to lead you to your real citing material, but I’ve always been told to never even so much as look in Wikipedia’s direction. I’m looking forward to being able to use Wikipedia for it’s intended purposes, especially in your class this semester.
August 15, 2017 at 10:03 pm
This surprises me because all throughout my learning career, we have been told to NEVER use and or trust Wiki. This actually excites me because I too thought, Wikipedia was an excellent source of information. Thank you for making that clear!
August 15, 2017 at 10:16 pm
With this being my second class I’ve taken from you I can really apply this article in my future academic career. Wikipedia is a very powerful tool…if you know how to use it properly.
August 15, 2017 at 10:19 pm
I have learned that Wikipedia can be an extremely important way to find information. Sometimes it’s the most handy source for information when a topic hasn’t really been explored and researched too far in depth. I do use Wikipedia, however you must read through the writings to see if anything sounds off
August 15, 2017 at 10:45 pm
This completely changed my mind about Wikipedia. All throughout my school years, I’ve been taught that Wikipedia was always inaccurate because of the fact that anyone can create a page, but I will for sure use this in the future!
August 15, 2017 at 11:29 pm
I agree so much with your statements! Wiki is a valuable tool, but being aware of the correct ways to use it benefits you in the long run. Citing from the source imported into wiki instead of wiki itself. I love that challenging the writers who input info on a daily basis, makes you want to understand the correct information needed in a topic of interest!
August 15, 2017 at 11:40 pm
Wow. This totally changed my view on Wikipedia! I will definitely use it more often.
August 16, 2017 at 12:06 am
For as long as I can remember Wiki has been some what frowned upon to be used during my research papers. I’m interested in learning how to use it in a different way. I’m already learning so many new things in this class. Thanks Dr. K! ME 10-11:15.
August 16, 2017 at 7:43 am
I always thought i had found some sort of loophole when using the sources provided, but now i know they can be legit. thank you for the article.
August 16, 2017 at 8:35 am
In school we often are taught only that Wiki is untrustworthy and not held to educational standards. This article shows it in a different perspective that I did not see before. It offers knowledge for anyone and is written by the people.
August 16, 2017 at 8:36 pm
I wish my teachers in high school and past college professors looked at wiki the way you do Dr. Krulder. Typing essays would be much easier and require less time. I am glad and lucky that you encourage us to use wiki and look at it in a positive way, yet we, students, should still try to not believe everything on wiki because even scientists make mistakes. I somewhat try to resist going on wiki to find out more information about things that I am curious, but now that you encourage us to use it shows me that wiki is not as untrustworthy as others say it is. -Ravnit Takhar
August 17, 2017 at 10:19 pm
I have been an avid Wikipedia user ever since I got my own computer at the age of thirteen. I have made my own entry modifications, and added information that I myself had found. It’s a great feeling being a part of a community that is working towards a more knowledgable world.
August 17, 2017 at 11:33 pm
Wiki is amazing. I read links from wiki all the time!
August 19, 2017 at 2:38 pm
I think the three things that you said to do in order to use Wiki, is very smart. I think that if we ask ourselves the three questions of “why is this entry here?”
“Understand the motivation behind the entry”
“Doubt the entry’s truthfulness.” then I agree that it is okay to use Wikipedia. I agree that Wikipedia can be a good and reliable source if you have thought about the document/article you are reading.
August 28, 2017 at 6:44 pm
Good blog you have got here.. It’s hard to find high quality writing like yours nowadays.
I truly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
January 23, 2018 at 11:40 pm
I have for the most part used Wiki in most of my papers to direct me to “give me necessary background, to fill in some knowledge gaps, and more importantly, to guide me to places where i can conduct research and cite sources that count.” I also question my sources as well as I read, but I do that to EVERYTHING! I’m a thinker. I over think things.
January 24, 2018 at 9:51 pm
I enjoyed how the article talks about how you can use wiki but not abuse wiki. The article gives you clear ideas on how to explore the site, but also warns the possibility of fraudulent posts. It was very informative and easy to read!
January 24, 2018 at 10:20 pm
Dr. Krulder, I truly found this insightful. For you to be one of the only professors I have met to ever endorse the use of Wikipedia is astonishing. I personally utilize it, as you mentioned, to direct me to other primary and secondary sources that I may not have known about or thought of during initial research for papers. I agree that if properly utilized that it can help to enhance ones knowledge upon a subject.
January 25, 2018 at 8:14 am
This is a great blog post. I have endorsed the use of Wiki thru out my college and non-college life. Since i have decided to un-pause the part of my college life and start again i am glad i found my way into your class. i am excited to see what History 17B will teach me besides who won what are when.
January 25, 2018 at 1:10 pm
I was always told that wiki is not a reliable source to use but since I read this, it has made me realize that the information you read on wiki, you can always double check with the sources the person provides. Definitely gave me a different outlook on wiki. I will use wiki more often for research.
August 14, 2018 at 2:20 pm
This surprises me because all throughout my learning career, we have been told to NEVER use and or trust Wiki. However, I have learned to much from the cite about multiple topics, people, and events. This excites me because I too thought, Wikipedia was an excellent source of information. Thank you for making that clear! I look forward to using this cite to my advantage in my research.
August 14, 2018 at 3:19 pm
It’s good to hear a professor with a Ph.D. say it is acceptable to use Wiki. So many of teachers have warned their students not to when in fact it is a useful tool. It is very interesting to me how many people police wiki to ensure it is accurate.
August 14, 2018 at 9:09 pm
Often times when I hear teachers and people who educate talk about Wiki it’s always in a negative way. In high school teachers say, “Your college professors are not going to let you use Wikipedia as a source of information,” but instead of explaining how to use the site to help us, the students, out they dock us points for using and citing the site. So it is reassuring to hear someone give us a way to use a tool that is often connected to that of laziness.
August 15, 2018 at 10:09 am
Wiki is an amazing sight. I like how you point out the benefits and down sides to Wiki because it can be a very useful tool. I use it mostly to look up books in a series I am reading or information on an actor or actress. Even on some rare occasions I will look up something I want to understand better. I have always been cautious on what I look up knowing it might be incorrect but I think to truly know and understand something you have to look at multiple sources.
August 15, 2018 at 4:52 pm
I have always used wiki on certain occasions. it can be a useful tool but also can be full of errors. So its always best to look at different sources for a topic. you never know if the information on wiki is true or not.
August 15, 2018 at 6:09 pm
I’ve never used Wiki in any research papers I did in high school, because my teachers always told me not to use it. Wiki could have many errors in it at times, but is still very knowledgeable in most areas, so it’s best to look at multiple sources and put things together with it all.
August 15, 2018 at 8:22 pm
I really enjoyed your article on your perspective on Wikipedia it made me want to use it more because it is a really good resource we can use.
-Zoaela Wyatt
August 15, 2018 at 10:38 pm
I really liked how you explained both the pros and the cons when using Wikipedia! All I ever heard from teachers was that it was not be used as a trusted source and to not even bother getting information from Wikipedia. But after having read this I can follow your suggestion of remembering three things (why is this entry here, understanding the motivation behind the entry, and doubt the entries truthfulness) when using Wikipedia at its best purpose.
August 21, 2018 at 6:24 pm
This is a first being told by a professor to use Wikipedia. I like how you clarified though how it can be used to get to other sources and fill in the gaps of missing knowledge. I will be taking what you said into use!
August 22, 2018 at 4:59 pm
I like the fact that you are stating the there can be errors and to make sure we figure out the motivation behind the articles in wiki. I like the suggestion that you can use wiki to go to other sites that can be used as a source thus helping us to research better and not spend a lot of time finding sites that we can actually use in our papers. Thank you for the thoughtful article.
August 22, 2018 at 5:48 pm
I had a professor once tell the class that we are not to use wiki because it can be updated by anyone at anytime and isn’t correct, I am glad I can approach it with this mindset and use it to find deeper knowledge, thank you!
November 1, 2018 at 9:44 am
I will now use those three questions to help me understand the material better that i am researching.
November 4, 2018 at 12:25 pm
All my high school years every teacher told me that Wikipedia was a bad resource because every person could go in it and change the information. Its good to know that its not true that Wikipedia is a good source to use but citing the source.
November 4, 2018 at 7:45 pm
I think this is a great way to approach that fountain of beautiful potential that is Wikipedia!
November 6, 2018 at 11:21 am
I think Wiki is a great approach to using it for research. I was always told never to rely on Wikipedia for my research paper because it’s not a reliable source. Also never cite Wikipedia on a research paper. I’m guessing it’s because people can always change or update their research.
August 16, 2020 at 9:12 pm
Thank you Professor Krulder! This will be helpful for writing essays and researching for any class.
August 20, 2020 at 5:26 pm
Thank you for this. In the past I have just stayed away from wiki. I never thought to use it in this mannor
August 24, 2020 at 10:41 am
I appreciate you writing this. Past professors have always told me never to use Wiki stating that it was all false and could not be properly be cited. I look forward to actually being able to use the site this year
January 25, 2021 at 8:46 am
Thanks you for this writing. I have used Wikipedia as a source along with other sources, but it had not occurred to me to use Wikipedia to find those other sources.
My Uncle David is a Wikipedia editing cop, but not for history.
January 26, 2021 at 7:37 am
Like the blog, and thought it was interesting. I was just reading the comments and found that another teacher will be using it for their material, and found that pretty cool.
January 26, 2021 at 1:07 pm
I’ll second those who have stated that their previous instructors did not allow the use of Wiki. I find it to be a helpful tool, like you said, if used properly. Thank you for this insight, Dr. Krudler.
January 28, 2021 at 9:38 pm
This is definitely an interesting view on wiki, considering most of my professors have always been against it which is a shame.
I guess I can finally use it.
August 25, 2022 at 8:59 am
i think it is funny to see the irony of a teacher telling a student to use wiki after all of my teachers prior told me we can’t because colleges don’t let you. This article made it very clear on how it actually is useful! It was made for a reason so why not take advantage of what is being provided! This will be a very helpful tool.
August 16, 2023 at 6:58 pm
I’ve never looked at Wikipedia this way, after such conditioning from previous teachers you’re taught that Wiki is your arch nemesis and should never be trusted. While you’ve made it clear that Wiki should not be trusted out of our of course – goodwilled hearts, you’ve highlighted what I see as an excellent use of it, a technique that I will be sure to borrow.
August 28, 2023 at 4:02 pm
I understand that we’re using Wikipedia as a sort of gateway into tons of more sources that we could actually use when writing our papers, it will give us a better understanding on what we’re learning about and possibly answer any questions we have or any curious thoughts we had on a subject.