Appendix H: The CRAAP Test

The CRAAP Test provides a list of questions that help scholars evaluate the quality of the information they gather for use in academic papers, speeches/presentations, and more. Depending on the specific topic area, some questions will offer more critical data than others.

Evaluation Criteria

Currency: How timely is the information?

• When was the information created?
• Has the information been revised or updated?
• If the topic requires up-to-date information, then will older sources work?

Relevance: How important is the information?

• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information presented at an appropriate academic level (i.e., not too basic and not too advanced)?
• Have several sources been reviewed before deciding that this one works best?

Authority: Who created the information?

• Who is the author/publisher/sponsor?
• What are the author’s credentials or affiliations?
• Does the author possess the necessary qualifications to be write about the topic?
• Is there contact information for the author?

Accuracy: How reliable and verifiable is the information?

• How has the information been collected?
• Is there evidence to support assertions?
• Has the information been reviewed and verified by others?
• Is the language used relatively free of emotion and/or biased language or tone?
• Are there spelling, grammar, or typographical errors?

Purpose: Why does this information exist?

• Is the information presented in more of an informational, persuasive, or entertaining manner?
• Did the author or authors clearly state their purpose?
• Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
• Does the point of view seem impartial and objective?
• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, or other biases present?