When writing a paper or making a project, it is essential to understand that not all information is good information, especially when it is found online. The CRAAP Test is a handy checklist to use when evaluating resources. The test provides a list of questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not a source is reliable and credible enough to use in your academic research paper. CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
The CRAAP Test
Currency:
Is the information up-to-date for your topic?
Relevance:
Does the information relate to your topic and is it at a good reading level for you?
Authority:
Who is the author (or publisher, source, sponsor) and are they qualified to write about the topic?
Accuracy:
Does the language seem unbiased and are there no grammatical errors?
Purpose:
What is the reason for the site? Is it to inform and teach or is it designed to sell, entertain, or persuade?
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