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- Is the information current or out-of date for your topic? Note: very current information is more critical in some fields, e.g. the sciences, than in other fields, e.g., the humanities.
- [Web sites]: Do all links work?
Relevance
The importance of the information for your needs.
- Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
- Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
- Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
Authority
The source of the information.
- What is the title or name of the web page(s), entry, or article you are examining? How difficult is this to determine?
- Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
- Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
- What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations? Hint: you may need to look elsewhere to find this information.
- What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
- Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
- Is there advertising on the site? If so, what type of advertising is there and is it clearly differentiated from the content?
- [Web sites]: Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?
- subdomain name, example: http://www.stmarytx.edu
- domain examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net
Accuracy
The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the informational content.
- Where does the information come from? Is this documented? Are the author's sources listed, either in footnotes, a bibliography, or end references?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Is there any indication that the information has been reviewed by editors or refereed?
- Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
- Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
- Are there spelling, grammatical, or other typographical errors?
Purpose
The reason the information exists.
- What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
- Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
- Who is the intended audience? How can you tell?
- Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
- Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
- [Web sites]: What types of colors, graphics, audio, video, text are used? What do these elements convey? How effectively does the site or page convey the intended message?
- [Web sites]: Do the graphics provide useful additional information or serve an important function or are they merely aesthetically pleasing?
Adapted from "Evaluating Information – Applying the CRAAP Test." 29 Sept. 2009. Meriam Library, California State University, Chico. Web. 3 Sept. 2010.
Additional Criteria
Other criteria to consider:
- How broad or deep is the coverage of the topic?
- Is this information available here at the library or at another location that is readily accessible?
- What other resources are available on this topic?
- Has a Reference Librarian been consulted to help you find other sources?
- Considering your responses, would you use this information source for a project or paper? Why or why not?