Evaluating Information Sources

Use the CRAAP Test to evaluate your sources based on these criteria:

• Currency: the timeliness of the information
  • When was the information published or posted? Has the information been revised or updated? Is the information current or out-of date for your topic? Are the links functional?
• Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs
  • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question? Who is the intended audience? Is the information at an appropriate level? Have you looked at a variety of sources?
• Authority: the source of the information
  • Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor? Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given, and what are they? What are the author's qualifications? Does the author offer a unique perspective or point-of-view outside of the mainstream opinion? Do they have lived experiences that can contribute to the conversation?
• Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content, and
  • Where does the information come from? Is it supported by evidence? Has it been reviewed? Can you verify any of the information in another source? Does the language or tone seem biased?
• Purpose: the reason the information exists
  • What is the purpose of the information? Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions clear? Is the information fact / opinion / propaganda? Is it objective, impartial & unbiased?