APA: CRAAP Test
CRAAP Test
Use the CRAAP Test to evaluate your sources!
This guide is helpful when evaluating any type of source, whether it's a website, an article from a library database, a video, or a book.
Currency: The timeliness of the information.
- When was the information published, posted, revised or updated?
- Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
- Are the links on a website functional and current?
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 (not too simple or advanced?)
- Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is 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 the topic?
- Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content.
- Where does the information come from? Are references and citations provided?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Has the information been reviewed?
- 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 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?
It's important to use the CRAAP test when looking at library sources, too! Just because it's in the library, does not mean it's automatically credible or a good fit for your assignment.
Here are some things to look for in your search results to help you apply the CRAAP test.
Where was your article published?
You can find articles from many types of sources in our library! From magazines that you can buy at the grocery store, to specialized research journals. In the examples below, American Educator and The Chronicle of Higher Education are the names of the journal and magazine where the articles are published. But, we also see articles from Junior Scholastic.
If you look at where your article is published and you've never heard of it, in many cases you can click on a link for the name of the source to learn what subjects they write about and sometimes you'll be able to find out if that source has a bias or point of view, which may also affect the information in your article. In the example below, we could click on CPA Journal to learn more about the source, which will help you decide if it's a credible or expert source for your topic.
If you aren't able to click on a link to learn more about a source, you can take a minute to look up your source online. Look at their website, find the About section and learn more about the source. Use the clues we covered - credible/expertise, age level, and bias - to help you decide if it's right for your assignment.
Evaluating Health Information Online
It's important to evaluate all information you find online and to take the time to investigate a website before using as a source for research. You can use these suggestions for almost any type of resource or web page but since there are many false or misleading sites online about health and mental health, we are going to focus on those.
Consider the following:
- Audience - Who is the information written for? Sites like WebMD.com or MayoClinic.org are written for consumers; people who do not work in the health care field. The information here is simplified and easy for the average person to read. It will not contain the specifics, data and evidence needed to thoroughly answer a question for a formal research assignment. Stick with sites that are written for professionals in the field. For example, if you're working on an assignment for pharmacology, the Food & Drug Administration website will have a lot of expert research on medication. The National Institute of Mental Health have expert research on mental health related topics.
- Mission - Is the site there to inform you or to try to get you to buy a product, diet, etc. Look for the About Us section on a website to learn about who runs the site and what their purpose is. For example, the American Cancer Society's website exists to help raise awareness and provide information on cancer.
- Funding - The About Us section will also tell you who pays for the site. If a site is run by a corporation and contains many ads, think carefully about whether or not the site may be biased or trying to sell you something. Publicly funded sites, such as the National Institute of Health or CDC provide information without the expectation of making money.
- Credibility - The About Us section will also tell you who is providing the content on the site and whether or not they are experts in that area. A person writing about their experience with depression is not the same as a psychologist writing about depression. Also look to see if the author of the website cites their sources and if they are citing credible sources.
- Dates - Be sure to check the dates on research and information to be sure you are reading about the most current treatments or practices.
For some great practice evaluating sites, check out this tutorial from Medline.
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