Consider the Source

Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission, and its contact info.

Read Beyond

Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story?

Check the Author

Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real?

Supporting Sources?

Click on those links. determine if the info given actually supports the story.

Check the Date

Reposting old news stories doesn't mean they're relevant to current events.

Is it a Joke?

If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure.

Check Your Biases

Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgment.

Ask the Experts

Ask a librarian, or consult a fact-checking site.

Adapted from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

When you search for information, you're going to find lots of it ... but is it good information? You will have to determine that for yourself, and the C.R.A.A.P. Test can help. The C.R.A.A.P. Test is a list of questions to help you evaluate the information you find. Different criteria will be more or less important depending on your situation or need.

Evaluation Criteria

Currency: The timeliness of the information

• When was the information published or posted?

• Has the information been revised of updated?
• Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
• Are the links functional?

Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
• Who is the intended audience?
• 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 the one you will use?
• Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research paper?

Authority: The source of the information

• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
• Is the author qualified to write on this topic?
• Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? (examples: .com, .edu, .gov, .org, .net)

Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness, an correctness of the content

• Where does the information come from?
• Is the information supported by evidence?
• Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
• Does the language or tone seem unbiased an free of emotion?
• Are there spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors?

Purpose: The reason the information exists

• What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade?
• Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
• Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

Adapted from Evaluating Information: Applying the CRAAP Test from Meriam Library, California State University Chico. License under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.