2. This study is about the use of Wikipedia by research scholars (registered at
six different Indian colleges) during their doctoral program. Most of the
respondents selected used Wikipedia for the collection of material needed
for research,than they used other information resources, such as reference
books and search engines.
3. Computer Science, Commerce and Management research scholars
used Wikipedia more for research than respondents in other
domains. The findings suggest Wikipedia is used along with other
sources of information by the researchers.
5. Introduction
Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, is one of the most
used among researchers today. But at the same time
scholars raise some doubts about the
reliability, completeness, accuracy of Wikipedia and
whether research scholars should, or should not, use it
for academic research. Not much information is available
about the use of Wikipedia during the research process
by an academic research scholar.
6. In this paper, I present findings from a survey of Indian research
Scholars in tamilnadu located on six academic campuses during the
academic year 2010-2011.
7. This study investigated the use of Wikipedia for research in five
related areas:
1. The frequency of use of Wikipedia by research scholars.
2. The motivation for using Wikipedia for research purposes.
3. Stages at which research scholars use Wikipedia.
4. Wikipedia Vs other sources of information.
5. Type of scholars more likely to use Wikipedia.
8. Methods
The study about Wikipedia usage among research scholars was
conducted during 2010 and 2011. The study was conducted with
10 research students’ sample groups on six campuses in India
between June and August 2010.On an average, each session was
60 minutes long.
9. The research scholar sample groups were provided with a
questionnaire containing questions about the research scholars’
research habits, experience, and the limitations that they might
have faced during the research process.
10. In total, 100 students participated in the session. More females (74
percent) than males participated in the sample groups. The
participants age group was between 24 to 34 years old. Research
Scholars were full–time, part-time from government, aided, self-
financing colleges and universities, who had completed at least
one year at their institution. The sample consisted primarily of
research scholars in variety of domains.
11. The selected sample research scholars were likely to use secondary
data collection for research. The questionnaire was distributed to
1512 research scholars on six campuses in India between April and
May 2010. The study sample was 151 responses. The overall
response rate was ten percent.
12. A questionnaire containing 30 items were also made available
online, using survey software provided through the Green Valley
Research Foundation. The purpose of the questionnaire was to
collect data about the different sources research scholars may use
while collecting data or materials for their research.
13. Major findings from this study are as follows:
1. Majority of research scholars were found using Wikipedia.
Wikipedia was used in combination with other information
resources at the earlier stages of the research.
2. Wikipedia helped research scholars with a summary of a topic,
meaning of terms, and also it offered a usable interface for the
research scholars.
3. Respondents who were likely to use secondary data collection
tend to use Wikipedia more than respondents who depend on
primary data collection.
14. Importance of Wikipedia
Research scholars use Wikipedia for a number of reasons.
Wikipedia is a clear source of valuable information for collecting
research related materials. As one research scholar in our sessions
remarked, “Wikipedia projects a true picture of the information I
need.”
15. Respondents for this study answered that they used Wikipedia
because it:
(1) helped them at the earlier stages of research in getting
acquainted with the topic. (86 percent);
(2)Some respondents reflected that Wikipedia is an easy to use
interface (79 percent); and,
(3)Some others expressed that it helped them to find the meaning
of difficult terms in certain topics (77 percent).
16.
17. Majority of the respondents (70 percent) where of the opinion that
they were using Wikipedia at the earlier stages of their research.
(see Figure 2).It is found that only very few research scholars were
in the habit of using Wikipedia near or at the end of their research
process. (two percent).
18.
19. Conclusion
This study was conducted to find the role of Wikipedia in research
and also to study the use of Wikipedia when compared to other
sources of information by research scholars.
20. Findings:
1. Research scholars tend to use Wikipedia for collecting materials
in the beginning stages of research.
2. Research scholars use Wikipedia, along with other information
sources.
3. In our study, we find that the information provided in Wikipedia
is as dependable as any other source of information available in
the internet.
4. Research Scholars use Wikipedia fully understanding its
limitations as a quick reference source.
21. Future Scope of the Study
This study will help Researchers, educators, and information
resource vendors. At times research scholars will be in urgent need
of materials which are essential for the completion of their
research. Time being the factor this is a very critical period. The
finding of this study shows that research scholars depend not only
on one source for materials but more than one source considering
dependency of the facts as a criterion.
22. About the author
Dr.Subramonian Principal Dr.R.V.Arts and Science College
Karamadai Coimbatore 641104 Tamilnadu India Dean – Research
Indian Programs University of Azteca, Mexico.
Guinness World Record Holder Online Teaching
National Record Holder in Continuous Teaching for 61 hrs 35 mts.
E–mail: dean [at] greenvalley [dot] edu [dot ]in
Web site is located at http://www[dot]greenvalley [dot] edu[dot]in
