The CRAAP test is one technique for evaluating sources. Use it in combination with other evaluation methods such as lateral reading and SIFT.
Currency
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How old is the source? Can you find the date the information was created?
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How important is currency for your research topic?
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If the source is a webpage, are there any broken links on the page? If so, that might mean the page is no longer maintained.
Relevancy or Usefulness
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Does the information you find have anything to do with your topic?
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What are you trying to accomplish with the information you find? For example, are you writing a research paper, looking for a quick fact or deciding which classes to take? Does the information you find help you do that?
Why or why not?
Authority
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Who is responsible for the information? Is it a person? What do you know about that person's qualifications or experience?
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Is the information produced by an organized group of people such as an advocacy group or government agency? What do you know about that group?
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If it's a website, is it a .com, .edu, .gov or other?
Accuracy
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Can you identify any errors of fact?
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Does the page list any sources or clues about where the information came from? Can you verify those sources?
Purpose
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What is the source trying to do? Is it trying to inform, entertain or express an opinion?
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What tone does the author use to accomplish this? For example, is the tone humorous, sarcastic, concerned, angry, informative, or neutral?
