<P> This is especially true considering anyone can edit the information given at any time, and although most errors are immediately fixed, some errors remain unnoticed, for weeks, months, or even years . This is particularly the case for obscure topics or subjects, which few people will read or edit . </P> <P> However, it can be noted that Wikipedia's Good Articles and Featured Articles are some degree more advanced, professional, and generally more credible than an article not labeled Good or Featured . It is because these articles are reviewed heavily and edited many, many times, passing various "tests" before being confirmed Good or Featured, that they can be used for some deeper research than usual . It is Wikipedia's Featured Articles that are especially trustworthy in contrast to normal or even good articles, as they have to pass even more rigorous "tests" to become featured, as they are to be "the best of Wikipedia", "a model for other articles", and thus, a more reliable source than average articles . Even with Featured Articles, though, an uninformed editor may introduce incorrect information . </P> <P> Follow two simple rules: </P> <Ul> <Li> An encyclopedia, whether a paper one like Britannica or an online one, is great for getting a general understanding of a subject before you dive into it, but then you do have to dive into your subject; using books and articles and other higher - quality sources to do better research . Research from these sources will be more detailed, more precise, more carefully reasoned, and more broadly peer reviewed than the summary you found in an encyclopedia . These will be the sources you cite in your paper . There is no need to cite Wikipedia in this case . </Li> <Li> An encyclopedia is great for checking general knowledge that you have forgotten, like the starting date of the First World War or the boiling point of mercury . The capital city of Canada . Citation is not needed for fact - checking general knowledge . </Li> <Li> Some details, such as the population of Canada, can be found on Wikipedia, but it is best to verify the information using an authoritative source, such as the CIA World Factbook . </Li> <Li> A very obscure detail, such as the names of the founders of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, might be very hard to find without the aid of an encyclopedia like Wikipedia . Wikipedia is ideal in these situations because it will allow you to find the information, as well as sources which you can research to confirm that information . In any case, you should not cite Wikipedia itself, but the source provided; you should certainly look up the source yourself before citing it . If there is no source cited, consider a different method of obtaining this information . </Li> <Li> All encyclopedias, whether traditional paper ones or online ones, have errors . When you have this many articles, typos and other errors will sneak in . </Li> </Ul>

Wikipedia is a good reference for a research paper