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Transcript

Evaulate websites using the craap test

Not sure if you should be taking information from that website? Does it pass the CRAAP Test?

CURRENCY

RELEVANCY

AUTHOR

ACCURACY

PURPOSE

C

C

R

A

A

P

CURRENCY Currency provides insight on how recently the information was published or written. The importance of currency varies depending on assignment guidelines and academic disciplines. Consider the following:

  • For websites, when was it last updated? If it's an article, what's the publication date? Check on the bottom of the website to see the Last Update information.
  • Does your topic require the most current information?
  • Is the information outdated, or is it missing recent events?
  • It is also important to consider the context of your research and determine the appropriate level of currency required for your needs. If you are researching a historic context topic, older information may still be relevant and accurate.
In the example below you can see the "Last update April 2014" highlighted. Websites that have not been updated for more than five years should not be used.

RELEVANCY Choose sites that BEST match your assignment requirements, NOT just the first ones that appear on Google. Whether you need research studies or opinion pieces, your assignment requirements and research topic will guide your selection of sources. Consider the following:

  • What type of website is it? e.g. webpage, blog, wikis, social media
  • How well does the site relate to your topic? Does it meet your information needs?
  • What is the geographical scope? e.g. Canada, Europe or the world. Does your assignment require Canadian context?
  • Who is the intended audience? e.g. students/professors, or general public
  • You may go to "About us" or "About" page to find out more information.
In the screenshot below, can you tell what age group is this website for?

AUTHOR The author of a website may be a person, company, organization, or government agency. Their credentials, expertise, and reputation provide clues for determining the credibility of the content. Consider the following:

  • Who is the author (it could be a corporation)?
  • What are the author’s credentials or affiliations?
  • Is the author sponsored or affiliated with a company, publisher, or organization?
  • Are they qualified to write on this topic?
  • Has the author written other publications on the topic to make them a subject expert?
  • Does the author provide contact information?
  • Who takes responsibility for the accuracy of all content on the site? You may find information by checking links to “Legal”, “Disclaimer”, “About us”, “Contribute”, etc. on the web page.
Try to find who is the author of the website shown in the screenshot example below?

ACCURACY Authors often build upon existing research or evidence, so linking or citing is important to pay attention to. Consider the following:

  • Where does the information come from?
  • Is the information supported by evidence?
  • Does the author cite their sources through hyperlinks and/or a two-step citation process?
  • Are there links to related sites? Do the links work, and do they go to other credible websites?”
  • Can the website text be found elsewhere? Copy/paste a few sentences into Google.
See, for example, the highlighted reference numbers in the Climate Atlas of Canada website screenshot below.

PURPOSE Information on the web is usually written and published for a purpose. Think critically about why the author is sharing information online. Consider the following:

  • Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
  • Does the website contain ads or pop-ups? Are they trying to make money?
  • Can you identify any bias?
  • A domain suffix (or URL extension) can provide hints about the website's intention. Is the domain suffix personal, commercial (.com), governmental (.gov), organizational (.org), or educational (.edu)?
  • Generally, avoid quick answer sites, like Ask.com, as responses are often simplistic and authors are difficult to ascertain.
  • Is the purpose to inform, sell, persuade or entertain the reader? How many ads can you see in the website screenshot below?