Wikipedia, Academia, and Science

Abstract

This paper presents some results of an ongoing research project on the interactions between Wikipedia and academia. The first part of the project analyses the perception and practices of academic faculty about Wikipedia. It also includes a study on 52 teaching experiences at universities around the world where lecturers have used Wikipedia for designing assignments involving students to edit the free encyclopedia. The second part of the project, still ongoing, is aimed at analyzing the scientific content of Wikipedia, in order to see how the non-expert nature of most of its editors shapes the way science and technology issues are presented in its articles.