The C.R.A.A.P Test is a valuable tool for evaluating sources.
Currency:
- Publication Date: When was the information last updated or published?
- Relevance of Updates: Has the information been revised or updated recently to maintain accuracy?
- Timeliness: Is the information current enough to suit your research needs?
- Functionality: Are the links and references within the source functional and up-to-date?
Relevance:
- Topic Alignment: Does the information directly relate to your research topic or question?
- Audience Suitability: Who is the intended audience for the information, and does it match your needs?
- Complexity: Is the material presented at an appropriate level of complexity for your understanding?
- Diversity of Sources: Have you considered a range of sources before finalizing this one for use in your project?
- Research Paper Suitability: Would you confidently include this source in a research paper?
Authority:
- Authorship: Who is the author, publisher, sponsor, or organization behind the information?
- Credentials: What are the qualifications or affiliations of the author, indicating their expertise in the subject matter?
- Contact Information: Is there clear contact information provided, enhancing the credibility of the source?
- URL Insights: Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source, such as domain type (.com, .edu, .gov, .org)?
Accuracy:
- Source Reliability: Where does the information originate, and can its reliability be confirmed?
- Evidence Support: Is the information supported by credible evidence or sources?
- Peer Review: Has the information undergone peer review or any form of scholarly evaluation?
- Verification: Can the information be verified through independent sources or personal knowledge?
- Bias and Errors: Is the language free from bias or emotional tone, and are there any evident errors in spelling, grammar, or facts?
Purpose:
- Information Intent: What is the primary purpose of the information – to inform, persuade, sell, entertain, etc.?
- Transparency of Purpose: Do the authors or sponsors transparently disclose their intentions or motives?
- Content Assessment: Is the information presented as fact, opinion, or propaganda?
- Objective Viewpoint: Does the source maintain an objective and impartial viewpoint?
- Biases Identification: Are there any evident biases based on political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal factors?
