Skip to main content
3 of 4
added 180 characters in body
Ooker
  • 1.8k
  • 8
  • 13

#What about Wikipedia?

Some express that Wikipedia should only be used as supportive resources, as it is volatile for edit and frequently circularly referenced. However, for terminology questions, I feel that it is suffice. Frequently such questions are asked from non-professional, and citing journal papers may be overkill.

In this example question, the OP seems to be non-professional. After I suggest in the comment to lookup a term, the OP confirms that this is what they need. Now:

  • We don't want answers as comments, since they can't be downvoted
  • Writing an answer with proper literature review from journal papers are intimidating for non-professional users (me included)
  • Wikipedia sometimes can do a better job than I can do, in both the knowledge it presents and the organization of that knowledge
  • Professional answers are not necessary for OPs, and may even be overkill. They just need to have a good direction

So I think for questions from non-professional using Wikipedia is fine. It has links to other concepts, which is a bonus.

One concern is that if we accept Wikipedia for non-professional questions, then what about other resources: TED talks, random blogs, magazines, Psychology Today?


Read more:

Ooker
  • 1.8k
  • 8
  • 13