Introduction to Psychology: Critical Evaluation of Information Sources

The CRAAP Test is a handy tool that reminds us to evaluate each information source according to the same set of criteria. Without this common list of questions, it's easy to let our own biases, preferences, or time restraints dictate which sources we choose to include in our research. For example, because you agree with the argument of an author, you may forget to examine their expertise. Or because an article comes from a very reliable source, you may forget to check how old the information is. Yes, we are all human. And yes: we can do better! 

For each information source you encounter, ask the questions listed below, and remember: 

• Weigh your answers to the questions together to determine how reliable the source is.
• However, sometimes a poor answer to one question is enough to make you choose to not use a source.

Currency: Is the information recent enough for your needs?

• Consider the topic you are studying: how recent does the information need to be for relevance?
• Look for the published date, or a revised/updated date.
• Note that many websites do not post a publishing date, and that is a big problem for researchers. Do not accept sources without a clear date.

Relevance: Is the information relevant to your particular research needs?

• Does the information add to your understanding of the topic? Does it answer questions you have about your topic? If not, it may be a reliable source, but not right for your current research needs.

Authority: Is the author an expert on the topic?

• You already have an idea about the authority based on your pre-evaluation scan. What clues do you need to follow up on now that you are evaluating the source itself?
• Who is the author, and what is their expertise on this topic? Expertise can mean different things in different contexts, like an advanced degree or extensive experience. Give this one a hard look and decide if the author deserves to have your attention to what they say.

Accuracy: Is there evidence that the information is correct?

• For this criterion, you need to read the source carefully: Does the author present evidence for their claims? Evidence might be any of these: direct quotes from eyewitnesses, data collected through direct experimentation, or carefully referenced research. If the author makes many claims but base them only on their own opinion, then we cannot know if the claims are accurate.
• Is the source from a peer-reviewed journal? This is strong evidence in favor of accuracy.

Purpose: Why did the author or publisher present this information?

• Purpose informs our evaluation by helping us discover any hidden bias the author or publisher may have. Some common purposes are to inform, to teach, to sell, to entertain, or to persuade. Which one is this source trying to do? Consider how this purpose could reveal bias in the information presented.
• It is very important to seek out a variety of different types of information and different authors. Even if one source seems reliable, check the information against a different author from a different publication.