Submissions:2016/College Students and Perceptions of Authority in Wikipedia

Title

Theme

Education

Academic Peer Review option

Yes

Type of submission

Presentation

Author

Lily Todorinova

E-mail address

lily.todorinova@rutgers.edu

Username

Affiliation

Rutgers University

Abstract

This study considered the implications of using a basic rubric for source evaluation in Wikipedia and its effect on perceptions of the authority and quality of the online encyclopedia. Around sixty students in a large public university in the United States were given a brief survey, which asked them to talk about their considerations for choosing a source for their research papers and whether or not Wikipedia was an acceptable choice. Students were asked to examine an existing article on Internet Privacy in the context of a hypothetical research assignment. Half of the group was provided a source evaluation rubric, which describes basic information literacy source criteria. The students who had the rubric had a higher perception of the authority of Wikipedia than the students who had no guide for evaluating the source. This indicates that while students continue to be warned by their faculty against using Wikipedia for their research papers, they actually find it helpful and appropriate for certain academic purposes. Moreover, students who use a rubric in Wikipedia to evaluate sources seem better able to articulate why a source is useful (or not). This presentation will discuss the results of the study, as well as wider considerations for navigating the use of Wikipedia in the college classroom.

Length of presentation

30 min.

Special schedule requests

N/A

Preferred room size

25

Will you attend WikiConference North America if your submission is not accepted?

Not sure

Interested attendees

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1. 02:32, 24 August 2016 (EDT)
2. Add your username here.
3. Gamaliel (talk) 15:08, 30 August 2016 (EDT)
4. KellyDoyle (talk) 18:48, 30 August 2016 (EDT)