The CRAAP Test is a method of evaluating the quality of information. It's a set of criteria/issues to view to help you decide whether the information is good and helpful for your purposes.
The CRAAP Test is a test to check the security of experts across academic disciplines. CRAAP Acronym for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
Due to a large number of sources being online, it can be difficult to tell whether these sources are trustworthy to use as tools for research.
Why is the CRAAP test important?
CRAAP test - Evaluating source credibility. Evaluating the reliability of the sources you use is of key interest to assure the credibility and reliability of your educational research. California State University received the CRAAP test to help assess the credibility of a source.
What does the acronym CRAAP mean?
CRAAP is an acronym for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. Use the CRAAP Test to assess your sources. When was the information published or posted?
Currency
- How up-to-date is the information?
- When was the information issued or last updated?
- Is the information still important/applicable to your subject area?
- Is there more current information available?
- For websites: are the links but useful?
- How quickly does knowledge move in this subject area?
- Test regarding the currency -
Relevance
- Does the information compare to your topic?
- Does the information answer or label your analysis question?
- Who is the expected audience?
- What level is the knowledge?
- If the information is too easy or general, it might not be appropriate for an academic responsibility.
- How relevant is the information for use in your study?
- Is it learned information?
- Does the knowledge add to your knowledge of a problem?
- Where does the data come from?
- Does it compare to your particular location/context?
- Test regarding the relevance -
Authority
- Who produced/published the information?
- Who is the author/publisher/source of the information?
- If there is no author, the data may not be reliable. If the author is a corporation, they might be trying to sell you something.
- What can you find out about them?
- What are their credentials or qualifications?
- Are they an authority in their field?
- Is the author affiliated with any cultural organizations or leading organizations?
- Can you find learning about them in other sources?
- Do they have a good reputation?
- Test regarding the authority -
Accuracy
- Is the information reliable, truthful, and correct?
- Is the knowledge supported by data and references?
- What reasons are given for statements/claims made?
- Be wary of information not supported by references Academic learning is regularly checked thoroughly before publication. Websites aren't usually checked by anyone.
- Does the information match what other reliable references have said about the subject?
- Can you verify the information with other sources?
- Has anything been left out that might invalidate or abandon any claims made?
- Are there any statements that seem strange or false? Is there spelling or typographical errors?
- Test regarding the accuracy -
Purpose
- Why does the information exist?
- Is the article trying to trade you a product?
- Persuade you of a particular point of view?
- Interest? Inform? Is the information accurate or based purely on suspicion?
- Is it propaganda, meant to influence the reader for political, religious, cultural, or commercial reasons?
- Is the information written with clear bias or prejudice?
- Is the language-neutral/unbiased or does it try to attract your emotions?
- Test regarding the purpose -
Conclusion
It is generally believed that the current data phase places an increasing burden on the information customer. The lack of editorial control in a web environment, coupled with personalized search engine results and filter bubbles of disinformation on social media makes obvious the need for keepers to grow our guidance to teach and encourage lateral, fact-checking behaviors and dispositions.