Google and Wikipedia

Google is a search engine. It can be used to locate sources on the public Internet. Google crawls, indexes, and searches the internet using specific mathematical algorithms.

Think of Google as a friendly tour guide to the Internet. It helps you find destinations to visit.

If your teacher allows you to use Google for academic research, keep these points in mind:

1. Google is a search engine, not a source (a tour guide, not a destination). Google (or Google Images) can never be listed as a source.
2. Google should never be your one and only destination when doing research. Library books, e-books, and databases should also be used.
3. Use the tips on the Search Tips page to Google smarter. You can hack the “popularity contest” algorithms and get better results.
4. Use the CRAP Test to evaluate every source you get from Google. This test was made for websites so you can determine if they are reliable.

Wikipedia is an open source encyclopedia style website that is written and edited by volunteers.

Think of Wikipedia as a warehouse of information with a door that is always open. This open door allows anyone to read but it also allows anyone to change what's inside (or even remove).

If your teacher allows you to use Wikipedia for academic research, keep these points in mind that Wikipedia itself identifies:

1. Wikipedia articles may be inaccurate because both experts and amateurs have the ability to edit them. There is no guarantee of authority.
2. Wikipedia articles may be out of date because no one is required to update them. Wikipedia does not have staff to check articles.
3. Wikipedia articles may be biased because they are targeted by groups that edit them to deliver a specific message. A good example is a political organization or a group that has strong feelings about a controversial issue.