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Research Tutorial

CRAAP Test

For a quick and easy way to evaluate your source, try the CRAAP test.

Currency: When was it published? Is the information still current, or has it become outdated?

Relevance: Is the information in the article related to your topic? Is the information written at an appropriate academic level? Who is the audience?

Authority: Who wrote the information? What are their credentials? Are they authorities on the topic? Who published the information?

Accuracy: Is the information reliable and correct? Do the authors offer evidence for their arguments? Was the information approved by an editor or peer review? Does the information seem to agree with what others have written on the topic?

Purpose: What is the purpose of the piece - informing, persuading, selling, etc? Is the information presented objectively or is there a bias? Are the authors presenting facts or opinions?