CRAAP Evaluation Criteria
It is important to evaluate the quality of information that you find on the web. Not all webpages are monitored by editors or reviewers, so the information can vary in quality and reliability. This list of criteria will help you evaluate information sources.
CURRENCY: The timeliness of the information.
- When was the information published or posted?
- Has the information recently been revised or updated?
- Is the information current and up-to-date for your topic? Are the links functional?
Relevance: The relevance of the information for your research needs.
- Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
- Does the level and depth of the information meet your research needs?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
Authority: The source of information
-Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
- Is the author an expert on the topic?
- Are the author's credentials provided or organizational affiliations provided?
- Is there contact information provided, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
- Does the URL (web address) or URL extension reveal anything about the author or sources?
For example"
.gc Canadian government website
.gov American government website
.edu American college/university website
.ca Canadian country code
.org Organizational website
.com Commercial website
ACCURACY: The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the information.
- Where does the information come from?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Are sources listed in a bibliography for verification?
- Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
- Does the language or tone seem unbiased?
- Is the information free of spelling, grammar, 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?
- Is the information factual? Or is it propaganda or an opinion?
- Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
- Are editorials clearly identified?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases
- Adapted from: Meriam Library, California State University. (n.d.). Evaluating information - Applying the CRAAP test. Retrieved June 7 2010
- from http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/evalsites.html Visit the library website: nait.ca/library
- Last modified: November 2015