Wikipedia & Encyclopedias
If you are unfamiliar with a topic and need some introductory information to get started, one strategy is to consult an encyclopedia. Most encyclopedias are available electronically through the library and their short articles can provide context as well as basic facts and definitions of terms. Encyclopedia articles can also help further refine your topic by highlighting important themes. In addition to broad-focused encyclopedias like Encyclopedia Britannica, academic libraries also provide access to highly specialized encyclopedias, with entries written by scholars in their specialized fields. You can find links to these specialized encyclopedias in the subject-specific research guides.
Wikipedia is the best-known and most widely used encyclopedia in the world. It is a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, including students and experts in the field. This open collaboration means that a Wikipedia entry is frequently edited within minutes of new information becoming available on current topics, so Wikipedia is often more up to date than traditional encyclopedias. The content is subject to ongoing community review, which means that many volunteers write, review and edit articles to improve their quality or to ensure alignment with Wikipedia content policies, such as ensuring that articles are verifiable and written in a neutral voice.
Entries in encyclopedias, including Wikipedia, are typically supported by citations to sources which can help the reader verify the entry information and give them options for further reading on the topic.
While encyclopedias shouldn’t be used as your main source for a paper, you should use one (or more) as a jumping-off point to
- understand subject terminology and concepts
- have major themes of research highlighted
- cross-check information from other sources
- explore different perspectives on the topic
- find a list of important and relevant sources
If you are required to use academic or scholarly sources, you will need to go beyond encyclopedias and look for academic books or journal articles.