You are required to evaluate the sources you use for your assignments on the following six criteria:
- trustworthiness
- reliability
- consistency
- transparency
- authoritativeness
- timeliness
Use the following questions listed under each criteria as a starting point for evaluating your sources. Keep in mind that the list is not static or complete. Different criteria will be more or less important depending on your situation or need, and some criteria may overlap.
Key: An asterisk (*) indicates that criterion is for Web sources only
| Trustworthiness: The credibility of the source. Overlaps with reliability and authoritativeness. |
- Where does the information come from?
- What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
- Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
|
| Reliability: Overlaps with trustworthiness and authoritativeness |
- What type of source is it and does that reveal anything about it's reliability?
- Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
- If an organization is responsible for the content, is the organization widely recognized as a source of scholarly and reliable information? (For example, the American Cancer Society for information on cancer-related topics.)
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
- Is the source cited or linked to by other sources?
|
| Consistency: Editorial standards of the source. Overlaps with trustworthiness and reliability |
- Where does the information come from?
- Are editorial guidelines for the source available?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
- Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?
|
| Transparency: The reason the information exists. |
- What is the purpose of the information? To inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
- Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
- Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda? Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
- Does the language or tone seem biased or free of emotion?
- Who has funded the research?
|
| Authoritativeness: The source of the information. |
- Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
- Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
- How do the author's credentials or organizational affiliations inform authoritativeness?
- What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic? Or are they an amateur, hobbyist, or merely someone with an opinion to air?
- Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
- What other information can you find about the author or organization responsible for the content of the source?
- Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com, .edu, .gov, .org, .net *
|
| Timeliness: The currency of the information. |
- When was the information published or posted?
- Has the information been revised or updated?
- Is the information current or out of date for your topic?
- Are the links functional? *
|
Adapted from The CRAAP Test by Sarah Blakeslee at Chico State's Meriam Library.
