This page in a nutshell: You should not use Wikipedia by itself for primary research (unless you are writing a paper about Wikipedia). Wikipedia:Search engine test describes research using search engines and the like. Wikipedia can be a great tool for learning and researching information. However, as with all reference works, not everything in Wikipedia is accurate, comprehensive, or unbiased. Many of the general rules of thumb for conducting research apply to Wikipedia, including: Always be wary of any one single source (in any medium — web, print, television or radio), or of multiple works that derive from a single source. Where articles have references to external sources (whether online or not) read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says. In most academic institutions Wikipedia, like most encyclopedias and other tertiary sources, is unacceptable as a source for facts in a research paper. Some encyclopedias such as Encyclopædia Britannica have notable authors working for them and may be cited as a secondary source in some cases; institutional policies will vary. For example, Cornell University's online guide to APA style uses citations from Britannica in some of its examples. Background knowledge for researchers about Wikipedia Potential researchers and other serious users are strongly encouraged to read About Wikipedia for a summary overview and understanding of Wikipedia. Overview of Wikipedia In a wiki , articles are never "finished" . They are continually edited and (usually) improved over time. In general this results in an upward trend