The CRAAP (currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, purpose) test is a list of questions that help you evaluate the information you find.
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What should I look for?
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Currency
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- When was the information published or posted?
- Has the information been revised or updated?
- Are the links functional
- Does your topic needs up to date information or will old sources works as well?
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Relevance
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- Does the information relates to your topic or answers your question?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is this source at the appropriate academic level?
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Authority
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- Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor
- What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
- Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
- Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
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Accuracy
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- Where does the information come from?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Has the information been reviewed?
- Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
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Purpose
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- What is the purpose of the information?
- Is the purpose clear?
- Is the information a fact, opinion, or propaganda?
- Does the point of view appear objective?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?
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*Adapted from Evaluating information: Applying the CRAAP test Meriam Library California State University, /chico. https://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/eval_websites.pdf
