The CRAAP Test and Evaluating Resources
Why Do We Evaluate Resources?
The importance of choosing a properly fitted resource can make or break the quality of your work. A resource that contains information that does not quite support your point, or worse, provides inaccurate or false information, can cause damage to your written work. As a writer, you must decipher the validity of articles you may want to include. How can you tell if a resource has what you need? Knowing how to evaluate sources has a huge impact on the quality of your writing. Having the skills to evaluate your resource ensures your audience believes in you as a writer, your writing prowess and what you have to say. Developing the ability to evaluate resources gives you the tools and skills needed to choose an appropriate resource to use for reference in your writing.
Evaluating Sources
This module will outline some key concepts to consider when analyzing internet sources. This knowledge will help you do better research for assignments and daily life.
Watch it: Evaluating Internet Sources and Fake News
Watch Evaluating internet sources and fake news with ncLibraries (8 minutes) on YouTube
Video source: nc Libraries. (2017, July 18). Evaluating internet sources and fake news with ncLibraries [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/fh9vDmIzznI
The Importance of Evaluating Sources:
Check Your Knowledge: Why is Evaluating Sources Important?
Evaluating Sources I (Text Version)
Watch Why is this important?(< 1 minute) on YouTube and answer the following question:
Knowing how to evaluate information is only useful for school assignments. True or false?
Check your answer: [1]
Activity source: “Evaluating Sources I” compiled by Jessica Jones and oeratgc, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 from “Evaluating Resources” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0
Consider the Source:
Check Your Understand: Consider the Source
Evaluating Sources II (Text Version)
Watch Consider the source (1 minute) on YouTube and answer the following question:
Where can you look to find author information for a website:
- About
- Information
- All of the above
- None of the above
Check your answer: [2]
Activity source: “Evaluating Sources II” compiled by Jessica Jones and oeratgc, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 from “Evaluating Resources” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0/ Converted into Text Version by Emily Cramer & Amanda Quibell, edited by Jessica Jones.
Motivation & Bias:
Check Your Understanding: Motivation and Bias
Evaluating Sources III (Text Version)
Watch Motivation/bias (2 minutes) on YouTube then answer the following question:
Shortening the URL to find the homepage of the site that you’re viewing might also give you information about any groups or organizations that this information is aligned with. True or false?
Check your answer: [3]
Activity source: “Evaluating Sources III” compiled by Jessica Jones , licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 from “Evaluating Resources” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0/ Converted into Text Version by Emily Cramer & Amanda Quibell, edited by Jessica Jones.
Check the Evidence:
Check Your Understanding: Evidence
Evaluating Sources IV (Text Version)
Watch Evidence (< 1 minute) on YouTube and answer the following question:
The more verifiable evidence a site uses, the more likely the information that site is trying to convey is accurate. True or false?
Check your answer: [4]
Activity source: “Evaluating Sources IV” compiled by Jessica Jones and oeratgc, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 from “Evaluating Resources” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0/ Converted into Text Version by Emily Cramer & Amanda Quibell, edited by Jessica Jones.
Timeliness:
Check Your Understanding: Timeliness
Evaluating Sources V (Text Version)
Watch Timeliness (< 1 minute) on YouTube and answer the following question:
Which of the following is important when evaluating a source from the web:
- The author or creator
- The date posted
- Supporting evidence
- All of the above
- None of the above
Check your answer: [5]
Activity source: “Evaluating Sources V” compiled by Jessica Jones and oeratgc, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 from “Evaluating Resources” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0/ Converted into Text Version by Emily Cramer & Amanda Quibell, edited by Jessica Jones.
The CRAAP/RADAR Test:
Check Your Understanding: CRAAP Test
Evaluating Sources VI (Text Version)
Watch Evaluating sources: CRAAP/RADAR (1 minute) on YouTube and answer the following question:
Which of the following is not part of the CRAAP test?
- Currency
- Relevance
- Authority
- Aptitude
- Purpose
Check your answer: [6]
Activity source: “Evaluating Sources VI” compiled by Jessica Jones and oeratgc, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 from “Evaluating Resources” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0/ Converted into Text Version by Emily Cramer & Amanda Quibell, edited by Jessica Jones.
What Makes News “Fake”?
Check Your Understanding: Fake News
Evaluating Sources VII (Text Version)
Watch Fake news (< 2 minutes) on YouTube than answer the following question:
You can trust the headline to represent the content of an online news source. True or false?
Check your answer: [7]
Activity source: “Fake News” compiled by Jessica Jones and oeratgc, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 from “Evaluating Resources” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0/Converted into Text Version by Emily Cramer & Amanda Quibell, edited by Jessica Jones.
Be a Skeptic!
Check Your Understanding: Be a Skeptic!
Evaluating Sources VIII (Text Version)
Watch Summary (< 1 minute) on YouTube and answer the following question:
Fill in the missing words.
Evaluating your sources helps you construct stronger ___________ (a) and make better ___________ (b).
Check your answer: [8]
Activity source: “Evaluating Sources VIII” compiled by Jessica Jones and oeratgc, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 from “Evaluating Resources” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0/ Converted into Text Version by Emily Cramer & Amanda Quibell, edited by Jessica Jones.
Summary
This module discussed the importance of critical thinking when evaluating information—be it scholarly or popular. You were introduced to the CRAAP test—a useful tool for evaluating both scholarly and popular sources.
Attribution & References
Except where otherwise noted, this chapter is adapted from “6.3 – The CRAAP Test And Evaluating Resources” In Communication Essentials for College by Emily Cramer & Amanda Quibell, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. / Addition of “Why do we evaluate resources?” section was created Academic and Career Preparation.
- An adaptation from “The CRAAP Test and Evaluating Resources” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
References & Credits from videos in this section:
Except for screenshots or otherwise indicated, photographs are used under an Unsplash.com license.
Slide 2: Wei, H. (Photographer). [Untitled image of thinking person] [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/@herlifeinpixels?photo=aso6SYJZGps
Slide 6: Lark, B. (Photographer). [Untitled image of person holding calendar] [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/search/calendar?photo=BRBjShcA8D4
Slide 9: Silas, J. (Photographer). [Untitled image of book with magnifying glass and pen] [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/@joaosilas?photo=I_LgQ8JZFGE
Slide 10: Simcoe, J. (Photographer). [Untitled image of book with magnifying glass and pen] [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/search/ask-more-questions?photo=GxnyOLTxCr8
Blakeslee, S. (2010). Evaluating information – Applying the CRAAP test. http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/eval_websites.pdf
International Federation of Library Associations. (2017). How to spot fake news. https://www.ifla.org/publications/node/11174
Manadlios, J. (2013). RADAR: An approach for helping students evaluate internet sources. Journal of Information Science, 39(4), 470-478. doi: 10.1177/016555151347889
- False ↵
- 3. If author information is not clearly stated elsewhere, checking the "About" or "Information" pages of a website may provide additional clues. ↵
- True. Shortening the url to find the homepage of a site is a helpful way to trace back the source. ↵
- True. The more evidence to support a claim, the better! ↵
- 4. All of the criteria listed are important for evaluating internet resources. ↵
- Aptitude is not part of the CRAAP test. ↵
- False. You should always read beyond the headline. ↵
- (a) arguments (b) decisions. ↵
