A CRAAP test is a set of evaluation criteria that can be applied to websites, articles, and other information sources to help you determine if the information is reliable. The acronym stands for:
Currency (Is the information current for your topic?)
Relevance (Does it relate to your topic?)
Authority (Who wrote it? What are their credentials?)
Accuracy (Does it have references? Is it peer-reviewed? Does other research support it?)
Purpose (Why was it written? Is there bias?)
Take a look at this CRAAP test outline for a breakdown of the five criteria. There you'll find questions you can ask while you're reviewing your sources. If you answer 'unknown' or 'no' to many of the questions then you should consider looking for alternatives.
PLEASE NOTE: This site was designed solely for informational purposes for the Seneca Polytechnic community. All other users are encouraged to check and confirm the information needed with their institution or public library. This site is prepared by library staff and is not reviewed by legal council.
