InfoGuides: Library Research Basics: Evaluating Sources

The CRAAP Test

CRAAP* is an acronym for remembering criteria you need 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)

These are general rules of thumb to follow when determining if a source is popular, scholarly, or trade:

For information or a printable version of this chart, you can view the University Libraries' Tutorial page.