Website Evaluation

CRAP Test (evaluating research sources) 

Currency: Is the information recent enough for your topic/field of research?
  • Was it published in the last __ years or around the time of an original event?
Relevancy: Does the information apply to your topic?
  • Is it a primary or secondary source?
  • How much of the information applies to your topic?
  • Is the information general or detailed, balanced or biased?
Authority: Who authored this information? Are they a trustworthy source of information?
  • Was it a single person or several people?
  • Was it a corporation or organization?
  • Are their credentials provided?
  • Are methods/references provided?
  • Was it peer-reviewed?
Purpose: Why was this written?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Is the information intended to inform, persuade, sell, entertain, …?
  • Is this a first-hand account of an event or research?
  • Does the author have a vested interest in the topic?
The above are questions to consider - you do not need to answer every question about every source. Just remember to think about it before citing!
Extra:"What are credible and reliable sites?"
See if this dude can evaluate websites!
Wikipedia
​DO NOT CITE Wikipedia as a source in your paper
  • Look for original, reliable sources in the References and External Links
  • Helpful for background information and alternate search terms
Extra:"What are credible and reliable sites?"
See if this dude can evaluate websites!