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Evaluating Sources of Information: Evaluating Tools

Break the Fake! Activity

Can you tell what's TRUE online?

Break the Fake hippo

Test your skills and learn four quick methods for verifying online information and images.  Try this interactive eModule!

Use Your Gut

The Gut Test doesn't use fancy acronyms: it's about evaluating information using your first impression after skimming a site's homepage or reading some selected content.

If on your first viewing a site seems...

  • biased
  • factually wrong
  • full of spelling and/or grammatical errors

...then it is probably not a reliable source to use for your academic research.

If you're using this type of content in a paper or project, it should be used to underscore a different opinion or to identify an error. Always use this type of content alongside more academic sources, and identify that this information is not being used as a reliable academic source.

Courtesy of University of Waterloo

The CRAAP Test

The CRAAP test is a way of thinking about sources to determine their reliability or appropriateness for your information need. 

Evaluate Sources Based on the Following Criteria:

  • Currency
  • Relevance
  • Authority
  • Accuracy
  • Purpose

Explore the other tabs in this box to explore how to apply the above areas. 

Use the link below to obtain a copy of the CRAAP Test Criteria.

Currency: The Timeliness of the information

Ask yourself the following questions as you review your source(s):

  • When was the information published or posted?
  • Has the information been revised or updated?
  • Is this the most current version of the document?
  • Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
  • Are there any outdated or "dead" links? (online sources)

Relevance: The Importance of the information

Ask yourself the following questions as you review your source(s):

  • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Is the information at an appropriate level for your needs (not basic or too advanced)?
  • Have you looked at a variety of sources before deciding this is the one you will use?
  • Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?

 

Authority: The Source of the information

Ask yourself the following questions as you review your source(s):

  • Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
  • What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
  • What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
  • Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
  • If the material is copyright protected, is the name of the copyright holder given?
  • Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? (Examples: .com, .edu, .org, .net, .gc.ca, .on.ca)

Accuracy: The Reliability, Truthfulness, and Correctness of the content

Ask yourself the following questions as you review your source(s):

  • 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 and free of emotion?
  • Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?
  • If the statistical data is presented in graph or chart form, is it legible and clearly labelled?

 

Purpose: The Reason the information exists

Ask yourself the following questions as you review your source(s):

  • 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?
  • Does it acknowledge other perspectives or conflicting points of view?
  • Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

 

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