Frequently asked questions

Short answer: Wikipedia and similar open web sources (like Quora, Reddit, blogs, or YouTube) are fine for getting started, but usually not acceptable to cite in university assignments. Here are some tips from Wikipedia on using it for research purposes.

Why not cite Wikipedia (or similar sources)?

• They do not go through scholarly peer review, so accuracy and reliability vary. Even Wikipedia itself does not recommend that students rely on articles as sources for their papers, this is because Wikipedia’s editorial review process is less strict than the peer-review process that is part of scholarly publishing. 
• Content can change quickly and may reflect opinion rather than evidence.
• Instructors usually expect you to rely on academic or professional sources.

How can you use them effectively?

• Use them for background reading when you’re new to a topic.
• Follow references, links, or citations listed in the article/video/post to find more reliable material.
• Check if the information is consistent with scholarly articles, books, or government/organizational reports.
• When in doubt, ask your instructor if a source type is acceptable.

Better alternatives

Instead of citing Wikipedia or similar sources directly, look for high-quality academic equivalents:

• Use discipline-specific Subject Guides to find background and reference sources (encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries).
• Check scholarly databases (CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, etc.) for peer-reviewed research.
• Look at government and professional organizations for up-to-date, reliable information (e.g., Health Canada, WHO, professional nursing associations).

Using Wikipedia and Similar Sources: Quick Guide

• Good for: getting background knowledge, finding keywords, following reference lists, sparking research questions.
• Not good for: citing as evidence, proving arguments, relying on as your only source, replacing peer-reviewed research.

Tip: Evaluate every source you use: consider who wrote it, when it was published, and how credible it is.

Common Mistake to Avoid

Don’t list Wikipedia (or similar sites) as your only source. Instead, use it as a pathway to stronger academic sources.