Evaluating Information and Information Sources
The CRAAP Test – A Useful Evaluative Tool
The CRAAP Test, developed by the Library at California State University, Chico, is a useful evaluative tool that you can apply to all information to investigate its relevance and credibility. CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose and the acronym makes these criteria a little easier to remember! The test challenges you to evaluate your source against each criterion when deciding whether or not it is suitable for inclusion in your academic work. Take some time to read the infographic and watch the video below to better understand the CRAAP Test and how it can help you select relevant and credible sources to use in your academic work.
Evaluating the Information You Find Using the CRAAP Test
Once you have found your information it is important to evaluate it so that you can keep what’s best. One way of doing this is by performing the CRAAP test on your sources.
Currency, Relevancy, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose
Asking the questions above about each website, document or piece of information that you find will help you decide which ones are relevant for your project.
Currency
When was it published? Is the information too old? Does it have a date on it? When was it last updated? How important is it that you have up-to-date information?
Relevancy
Does it fit your project? Will your project be stronger if you include this information?
Authority
Who has published or written the information? Do you trust them? Is it easy to find out anything about them? Who was it written for?
Accuracy
Is the information correct? Check with another source, if you are not sure to see if they say the same thing. Are the details correct?
Purpose
Why does the information exist? Is it trying to sell you something, persuade you or give you an opinion? Once you figure this out, you can then decide how to use the information that you have found.
REMEMBER: If you are not sure how to apply any part of the test, ask your librarian or teacher for help and support. Always evaluate the information you find.
There is lots of information available on the CRAAP test produced by universities and other libraries that can show you the test in action. You can find it by doing a simple search on the internet.
Short Video: Using the CRAAP Test to Evaluate Sources
Click here to access “Evaluating Sources”: brought to you by Western Libraries
Evaluating Sources by Western Libraries is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License
