The acroynm CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. You can use the CRAAP Test to help evaluate resources you find, including books, articles from newspapers, magazines, or journals, and websites. Different criteria will be more or less important depending on your situation or need.
Key: * indicates criteria is for Web sources only
Criteria |
Questions to Ask |
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Currency:The timeliness of the information. |
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Relevance:The importance of the information for your needs. |
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Authority:The source of the information. |
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Accuracy:The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content. |
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Purpose:The reason the information exists. |
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The CRAAP Test was developed by librarians at California State University, Chino.
When evaluating the quality of the information you are using, it is useful to identify if you are using a primary or secondary source. By doing so, you will be able recognize if the author is reporting on his/her own firsthand experiences or relying on the views of others.
Source Type | Examples |
Primary A primary source is a first-person account by someone who experienced or witnessed an event. This original document has not been previously published or interpreted by anyone else. |
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Secondary A secondary source is one step removed from the primary original source. The author is reexamining, interpreting and forming conclusions based on the information that is conveyed in the primary source. |
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Tertiary A tertiary source is further removed from primary source. It leads the researcher to a secondary source, rather than to the primary source. |
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Also known as scholarly, refereed, or peer-reviewed journals.
Appearance: Generally have a sober, serious look. May contain graphs and charts, but few glossy pages or photographs. Use scholarly language with vocabulary specific to their profession or field.
Audience: Written for academics and professionals.
Author/Authority: Articles written by researchers or scholars in the field who report the results of original research.
Citations: Articles include footnotes and a list of citations at the end of the article.
Content: Includes scholarly research for a particular profession or industry. Articles usually contain an abstract, methodology, discussion, charts or tables, results, conclusions, and references.
Frequency: Usually published bimonthly or quarterly.
Examples:
Appearance: Generally attractive and illustrated with color photographs.
Audience: Written for the general public.
Author/Authority: Articles written by staff or freelance writer.
Content: Includes current events and special features.
Frequency: Usually published weekly or monthly.
Examples:
Also known as industry magazines.
Appearance: Generally attractive and are often illustrated with color photographs.
Audience: Written for industry professionals.
Author/Authority: Articles written by staff writers, though the magazine may sometimes accept articles from industry professionals.
Citations: Occasionally list references at the end of the article or provide footnotes within the text.
Content: Includes current events and special features within a particular profession or industry.
Frequency: Usually published biweekly or monthly.
Examples:
Appearance: Generally printed on newsprint in black ink.
Audience: Written for the general public.
Author/Authority: Articles written by staff writers and freelance journalists.
Citations: Will sometimes cite sources, a scholar, or a freelance writer.
Content: Includes current events and special features.
Frequency: Usually published daily or weekly.
Examples: