10 CRAAP Test
Another strategy you can use to assure any information you use is credible is the Currency, Relevance Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose (CRAAP) Test. The CRAAP test is a list of questions that you can ask yourself to determine if the information you have found is reliable.
Currency – The timeliness of the information. Some questions to ask yourself to determine the currency of the information you have found are:
- When was the information created?
- Has the information been updated before?
- Based on your needs, is it out-of-date?
Relevance – The importance of the information based on your needs. Some questions to ask yourself to determine the relevancy of the information you have found are:
- Does the information relate back to your topic or answer your question?
- Is the information at the appropriate content level?
- Who is the intended audience?
Authority – The source of the information. Some questions to ask yourself about the source of the information you have found are:
- Are the author’s credentials or affiliations provided?
- Does the author’s background qualify them to write on the topic of the information?
- What does the URL reveal?
Accuracy – The reliability of the information. Some questions to ask yourself to determine the accuracy of the information you have found are:
- Does the information contain any references?
- Can you verify any of the information provided?
- Are the sources that are cited scholarly?
Purpose – The reason the information exists. Some questions to ask yourself about the purpose of the information you have found are:
- Is the information a fact or opinion?
- What is the purpose of the information (persuade, inform, entertain, etc…)?
Source
Blakeslee, S. (2010). Evaluating information–Applying the CRAAP test. Retrieved from http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/eval_websites.pdf
