Christy Gavin 2010

Wikipedia• Jimmy Wales

January 15, 2001

Wiki/pedia Wiki

Hawaiian: quick, rapid

pedia encyclopedia

“ Wiki”

collaborative software that allows anyone to edit,

delete, or modify contents of a web site.

A Wikipedia article does not have just one author.

• False claims

• Hidden agendas

• Opinion as a proven claim

• Vandalism

Wikipedia

is vulnerable to. . .

Wikipedia Ideals

• Neutral point of view

• No original research

• Include references

Encourages these content policies:

But Can Wikipedia Be Trusted?

Warning FlagsWeasel WordsCredible Evidence

Warning Flags

Weasel Words

Words or phrases that are vague and not supported by evidence.

Weasel Words

“Some argue that. . ."

“There are those that assert. . . “

“The evidence demonstrates. . .”

Race

Some argue that although "race" is a valid concept in other species, it cannot be applied to humans. Many scientists have argued that race definitions are imprecise, arbitrary, and derived from custom.

Scholarly Article: Sun, Kathy. “The Definition of Race.” American Psychologist, Jan. 1995, 50:1, 64-78.

It can be argued that anyone attempting to define race scientifically is obligated to examine how the meaning of race in the social world is distinct from and related to the biological one because the concept of race is used in both domains and the obsession with racial problems remains a critical social issue in the society (Katz & Taylor, 1988; Yee et al., 1993), eliciting the attention of more psychologists than does the debate about genetically based differences (see Katz & Taylor).On one hand, a racial category in the social world refers to people who possess not only similar biological characteristics but also identical social experiences, such as being the victim of collective discrimination or prejudice (McKee, 1993).

REFERENCES Katz, P. A., & Taylor, D. A. (1988). Introduction. In P. A.Katz & D. A.Taylor (Eds.), Eliminating racism: Profile in controversy (pp. 1–16). New York: Plenum Press.Kuhn, T. (1970). The structures of scientific revolutions (2nd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.McKee, J. B. (1993). Sociology and the race problem: The failure of a perspective. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.

What is a Trusted Source?

Verification

Evaluate trustworthiness according to:

What is a Trusted Source?

To prove the truth of a claim by presenting evidence.

To test the accuracy of Xby presenting references.

Verifications means. . .

What is a Reliable Source?

Scholarly (peer-reviewed)

Most reliable source type:

Unreliable Sources

•Personal websites

•Vanity press

•Blogs

•Original research that has not been peer-reviewed

Wikipedia

•Limit use of Wikipedia to a “deep background” source

•Do not cite Wikipedia to support facts, stats, and statements

•Verify all information in Wikipedia

(juvenile OR child) ("death penalty" OR "capital punishment") ("united's states OR u.s OR america) rate

september 11 2001 (deaths OR casualties OR fatalities)