With all resources, apply the CRAAP test!
- Currency: When was the information published or updated? Is there more recent information available on your topic?
- Relevance: Who is the intended audience? How in-depth is the information? Is the information overly basic or highly specialized? Is the information appropriate for your research?
- Authority: Can you find information about the author from sources? Is the author a self-proclaimed expert or enthusiast? What are the author's or publisher's credentials?
- Accuracy: Is the information well written? Is the information verifiable elsewhere? Are the sources of information documented?
- Purpose: Is the information biased or prejudiced? Is the information designed to entertain, disseminate scholarly information, or sell something? Is the information presented complete? For internet sources, how is the site funded?
