to expect people to know...

[cheeseandchive]

that referencing Wikipedia is NOT ok at university level?!

[TheFallenNinja]

Also. Typing words into google isn't "research"

[livinginwonderland]

yanbu. i haven't been allowed to use wikipedia for research or school work since i was about thirteen, so first year of upper/high school.

[Still18atheart]

Third year student who has never referenced wikipedia only to have a lecturer to have copied and pasted his entire lecture from that website of the devil

[MissMogwi]

Arrgh, I hate group marking. Recipe for rage IMO.

[cheeseandchive]

I don't mind what people do for their own exams, MrsLouis, it's when it's group work that is pees me off! Why should I be down-graded just because someone else CBA and I can't make them.

very much needed

[MrsLouisTheroux]

Hmm, a bit like me reading Brodies notes instead of actual book for Eng. Lit. exam? Ok, I get your point!

[MissMogwi]

I'm a third year student and I would be amazed at anyone referencing Wiki at this point!

We were told in first year it is not an acceptable source, so anyone using it three years down the line is desperate and/or just can't be arsed.

There are loads of online databases which are listed on the university website, so there's no excuse.

[Familyguyfan]

It is one of the things I hate the most. It's lazy and unreliable and yet students do it year after year. Use a book!!!

[cheeseandchive]

Blimey, London, at Masters level!?!

Yeah, tempted to follow Westie's DH's lead!

[Grumpla]

Haha Westie 's DH has the right idea there!

[LondonInHighHeeledBoots]

We had lecturers who used to ref Wiki at uni, if they are going to, so am I (no, I'm not its terrible science but ffs! Chemistry Masters' lecturers)

I do use it as a journal finder though.

[Lifeisontheup]

I'm in the first year of an OU degree and we're told never to use Wikipedia as a reference although we can use it as a springboard to find other references.

I'm not entirely surprised though given the number of people who seem to believe that an article in a newspaper is fact and totally proves their point.

[badtime]

When I was doing my Masters, I did read the wikipedia articles, along with everything else, but if I wanted to reproduce a point from wiki, I would go to the article footnotes and actually read the original source, as this is the only way to know if the wiki article is anywhere near accurate. The main problem I actually find with wikipedia is that most articles only give a very limited amount of information and a narrow perspective.

(We got training on how to use all sorts of online databases, but I am lazy).

I find it hard to understand how a 3rd year UG could think it is appropriate to cite wikipedia (in anything other than an essay about wikipedia or something else where it would be directly relevant).

[JaquelineHyde]

YANBU how can anyone think that it is ok to reference Wiki

It is the laziest thing I have ever heard!

OK start there and get some basics for your essay, but then check the bloody things, do another Google search use scholar back up what you have found on Wiki and then reference that.

IT IS NOT DIFFICULT!!!

This makes me so

[Trills]

YANBU at all.

Wikipedia is very big on getting references for all the facts that are stated - you could always use it as a place to find good "real" sources.

[Thumbwitch]

I used to work on a peer-reviewed journal, and someone was asked to do an article for us - while editing this article, something needed checking and I discovered that the author had lifted the entire section from an online source. I then went on to check the rest of the article and around 90% of it was C&Pd from various online sources - needless to say it was not printed, and that author was never asked to contribute again!

[Binkyridesagain]

DD is a 3rd year uni student and has never used a wiki reference, at the start of first year they were informed that any work submitted that had any wiki involvement would not be marked. The threat seems to have worked

[cheeseandchive]

We all have the handbook, I don't understand how people don't know.

Just find it a bit frustrating as I'm doing the lions share of the work (voluntarily, admittedly) and have been really thorough in my researching, but seems a bit pointless if no-one else is doing the same!

lockets maybe I should work with your son!

[nickelbabe]

a copy and paste would be a straight forward disqualification due to plagiarism.
at some unis, they would throw you off your course for that.

hell, i'm reluctant to give wiki as a citation on MN never mind in a degree course!

[Groovee]

My children have both been told in Primary not to use it and dd now at high school has been told not to use it either due to it often being factually incorrect.

[Thumbwitch]

Does your institution not have a student handbook that explains this thoroughly?Along with useful info on plagiarism? Point them in the direction of that, maybe?

[cheeseandchive]

Ahh MrsCosmo, you totally win. Best of luck with that one!

[MrsCosmopilite]

Posted too soon...

We are encouraged to use Google Scholar, and expand searches from there.
There are also lots of free papers on PlosOne.

I think you just have to tell them NO!

[MrsCosmopilite]

I'm doing a Masters. Someone on my course used wiki referencing. Aaargh!