InfoGuides: COMM 100/101: Evaluate Sources

Evaluating Information

You will need to be able to discern whether a source is scholarly, trade, or popular. This handy tutorial will help you make those determinations. It may be downloaded as a PDF for quick and easy access.

Beyond identifying the type of source, you will need to evaluate information for its suitability to your research. Evaluating information and reading sources with a critical eye is an important part of your research. Below are two methods for evaluating information.

The CRAAP Test

CRAAP* is an acronym for remembering criteria to use when evaluating information.

C	Currency	When was the information published or last updated?
R	Relevance	Does the information answer your research questions appropriately? How does it help you? Who is the intended audience?
A	Authority	Who are the authors and what are their credentials?
A	Accuracy	Was the piece reviewed by editors or scholars? Is there supporting evidence? Can you verify the accuracy of the information? Is there a bibliography or list of cited sources?
P	Purpose	Is the author’s purpose to sell, persuade, entertain, or inform? Is the information or author biased? Do the authors make their intentions clear?

*CRAAP acronym and descriptions created by the Meriam Library at CSU, Chico. (http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/evalsites.html)

The ABCDEs

Evaluating information is as easy as A, B, C, D, E.

A	Author	Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor? What are the author's credentials?
B	Bias	What is the purpose of the information source? Is the information biased? Is it fact, opinion, or propaganda? Does the point of view appear objective or impartial? Do the authors make their intentions clear?
C	Content	How truthful and reliable is the information? Is the content presented clearly, concisely, and cogently? Does it follow established standards of scholarly communication or journalism? Is the information well-written and professionally presented?
D	Date	When was this information published? How current is the information? How important is currency to your field of study?
E	Evidence	Are the claims made in the information source supported by evidence? Is the evidence presented sufficient to make the author's/creator's argument? What evidence might have been overlooked? Are there citations for the sources noted?