Other Resources
These links take you to pages of further information which might be relevant and helpful. If you still can’t find what you need, please contact one of the organisations we recommend on our home page or try the ‘search’ function in the header.
The CRAAP Test
When you search for information, you will always find plenty of it, but is it good information?
To help you decide whether other websites have good quality information, consider applying the CRAAP Test.
Is the information Current, Relevant, Accurate, Authoritative, and what is its Purpose – to inform, to entertain, to sell you something?
The CRAAP Test
The CRAAP test helps you decide whether a website has good-quality information on it. It’s always worth considering whether the information you are looking at is current, relevant, authoritative, accurate, and has no hidden purposes such as advertising a product rather than giving you objective advice.
Currency: how recent is the information?
- When was the information published or posted?
- Has the information been revised or updated?
- Are the links functional?
Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.
- Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
- Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
Authority: The source of the information.
- Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
- Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
- Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address? Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net
Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content.
- Where does the information come from?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
- Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
- Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
Purpose: The reason the information exists.
- What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
- Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
- Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
- Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?
With thanks to Molly Beestrum, who originally created the CRAP test, and Meriam Library, from whom these guidelines were adapted.
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