One popular way to evaluate a source is to apply the CRAAP Test. This is a series of questions you can ask about your source. There are no right or wrong answers to the individual questions or the test as a whole. The questions are guides to help you evaluate your source.
Currency: The time relationship between the source's publication date and my research need
- When was the item written or last updated?
- If the information is dated, is it still suitable for your topic?
- How frequently does information change about your topic?
Relevance: The extent to which this source meets my research needs
- Does the source meet the stated requirements of my assignment?
- Does the source contribute to my research needs or answer my research question?
- Who is the intended audience of this source?
- If the information refutes your ideas, how will this change your argument?
- Does the material provide you with current information?
- How does using this source help me understand the larger conversation around this research question/need?
Authority: The author or creator of the information
- Are there details about the author?
- What is the author's level of education, experience, and/or occupation?
- What qualifies the author to write about this topic?
- What affiliations does the author have? Could these affiliations affect their position?
- What organization or body published the information? Is it authoritative?
- Does it have an explicit position or bias?
- Is there an easy way to contact the author if I have questions?
Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content
- Was the information reviewed by others (editors or subject experts) before it was published? What citations or references support the author's claims?
- Is information in the source presented as fact, opinion or propaganda? Are biases clear?
- Can you verify information from referenced information in the source?
- Is the information written clearly and free of typographical and grammatical mistakes?
- Does the source look to be edited before publication? A clean, well-presented paper does not always indicate accuracy, but usually at least means more eyes have been on the information.
Purpose: The reason the information exists
- Is the author's purpose to inform, sell, persuade, or entertain?
- Does the source have an obvious bias or prejudice?
- Is the article presented from multiple points of view?
- Does the author omit important facts or data that might disprove their argument?
- Is the author's language informal, joking, emotional, or impassioned?
- Is the information clearly supported by evidence?
- Modified from The Information Literacy User's Guide, pp. 73-76, and Phoenix College's CRAPP detector handout.
