INRW 0301 | Integrated Reading and Writing

There is a wealth of information available for free on the Web. Some of it is good, and some of it is pretty questionable. How can you determine which information is good to use for assignments, and which you should probably hit the Back button on?  Use the resources on this page to learn more about how to evaluate resources you find on the Web.

This short video from the McMaster University Library will help explain how to evaluate web resources using the CRAAP test.

CRAAP is an acronym for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. Use the CRAAP Test to evaluate your sources.

Currency: the timeliness of the information

• When was the information published or posted?
• Has it been revised or updated?
• Are the links functional?   

Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs

• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information too simple or advanced for your needs?
• Have you looked at other options??

Authority: the source of the information

• What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
• Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
• Is the URL trustworthy (.gov or .edu)?

Accuracy: the reliability and truthfulness of the source

• Has the information been reviewed?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source?
• Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?

Purpose: the reason the information exists

• What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?