Most everyone, when they begin researching a topic, are told at least once, “Don’t use Wikipedia!” Why does Wikipedia get such a bad rap? This mostly comes from the fact that it is user created, edited and curated. Just because it is completely open to the public, however, does not mean its information is inaccurate. On the whole, people who write and edit Wikipedia entries while not necessarily experts, have at least a working knowledge of their topics. Wikipedia is not meant to be the final word on anything, but it is a good first step for most research. Not unlike the encyclopedias that I used as a child, Wikipedia provides short digest versions of information on nearly 7 million separate topics. With this large database, you are sure to find at least something helpful to your research.
More important than the actual articles, though, are the lists of sources you will find at the bottom of nearly every Wikipedia entry. From the start, some of your work has already been done for you. These lists are the perfect jumping off point for collecting information. Each helpful source you find from a Wikipedia article will have a source list of its own which will lead you to even more helpful information. This continual cycle of sharing information and resources is how research continues to flourish.