Some say that most students in college make use of Wikipedia for research and studies. How reliable is this in reality? Is it frowned upon or generally accepted?
From an academic standpoint, Wikipedia is often seen as questionable as a primary source for research. This is because its content can be edited by anyone, therefore, inaccuracies can occur. Moreover, academic research often requires primary or peer-reviewed sources, which Wikipedia is not.
However, Wikipedia can be a tremendous starting point when beginning research on a new topic. It provides a broad overview of the subject, and sometimes even a framework to understand more complex aspects. You can follow the sources cited on Wikipedia to find more reliable, primary documents.
When it comes to using Wikipedia in academic work, it's not generally accepted to cite Wikipedia as a source in the paper itself. However, it's absolutely possible to use Wikipedia to further understand a topic, grasp the basics, or even get an idea on how to structure your argument or project.
Overall, it's important to consider the high-level view provided by Wikipedia as a starting point, not an ending point, in academic research. One should also remember to follow the guidelines and policies of their individual college or university, as some may have stricter policies regarding the use of resources like Wikipedia. Regarding submissions, always ensure to base your arguments on primary or peer-reviewed sources. This would usually be the expected standard in most academic environments.
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