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Wikipedia-Sponsored Pilot Study Lauds Wikipedia Accuracy

netbuzz writes "The Wikimedia Foundation today is releasing the results of a 'pilot study' it commissioned last year to assess the accuracy and quality of Wikipedia in such a way that it would provide a methodology blueprint for others do more thorough reviews of online encyclopedias. The results are in, and despite ready acknowledgment of the small sample size and paragraphs worth of other caveats, the parents of Wikipedia can't help but note that its baby was judged to have outperformed other online encyclopedias, including Encyclopedia Britannica, in three different languages. Britannica, which disputed the Wikipedia-friendly results of a much-cited Fortune comparison report back in 2005, has yet to offer a reply to this one."

5 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. In before... by pinkj · · Score: 4, Funny

    In before 'citation needed'!

  2. Oil industry report says oil industry great by crazyjj · · Score: 5, Funny

    And water wet.

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    What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
  3. Not Noteworthy by ohnocitizen · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unfortunately the study has been deemed Not Noteworthy by one of Wikipedia's editors and been removed.

  4. Re:Smoking is good for your health* by crazyjj · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, duh, of course they're going to make cigarettes safe. Think about it. Why would they want their best customers dying off?

    --
    What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
  5. Re:Very variable. by QuietLagoon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wikipedia isn't a place to publish your own personal knowledge, but a place to publish information that can be cited, ideally to peer-reviewed articles or books.

    If you really believe that, they may not be hope for you.

    Wikipedia is all about certain people taking over articles and, accuracy be damned, making sure those articles reflect the viewpoints of those people.