Has Wiki Replaced the College Library?

Not quite: Undergrads still turn to more traditional sources
By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 25, 2007 3:46 PM CDT
Has Wiki Replaced the College Library?
A Levels Results Are Released   (Getty Images)

Contrary to expectations, college students are not rushing online for answers to research assignments. A new survey shows only 3% of undergraduates with research tasks went to Wikipedia first and only 13% tried search engines. The largest number, 40%,  turned to course materials first and 23% sought out the library.

Ars Technica is wary of the finding, however, as the subjects were students at a small liberal arts college; further, the results came from surveys rather than observation. The site was dismayed even more that that so many respondents also called the research process “barely a tolerable task.” (Read more college stories.)

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