Q. How do I know whether or not the source I am looking at is ok to use for my research?

When you are looking at sources you must evaluate them in order to determine if they are appropriate to use in your research. One technique is to use the CRAAP Test (VIDEO below) developed by the Librarians at California State University, Chico. Visit their LibGuide for more information.

Currency:

• When was the information created or published?
• When was it last updated?
• Are the links working?
• Does it fit with the requirements of your assignment?

Relevance:

• How well does the information relate to your topic or research question?
• Who is the audience?
• What is the content level?

Authority:

• Where is the information coming from?
• Who published it?
• Does the URL provide you with any clues? (.edu .gov .org)
• Who is the author?
• Are they an expert in their field? What makes them an expert?

Accuracy:

• Is the source reliable? Known for providing accurate information?
• Does the information provided match the other sources you’ve consulted?
• What sources are they? Are those sources authoritative?

Purpose:

• Why was the research conducted?
• What is its purpose? Is it original research or commentary?
• Can you identify the central argument?
• What sources do they use? Are they balanced?

VIDEO