Applying the CRAAP Test
Use this worksheet to evaluate sources you are considering for your research and Works Cited page.
Currency: The timeliness of the information.
SCORE (1 = worst, 10 = best)
______________
When was the information published or posted? ____________________
Has the information been revised or updated? YES NO
Is the information current for your topic?
YES NO
Websites: Are the links functional?
YES NO
TRY IT: To check the latest date a site has been updated, cut and paste the following in the URL box:
javascript:alert(document.lastModified) Go to http://www.ushmm.org/
Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.
SCORE (1 = worst, 10 = best) ______________
Does the information relate to your topic?
YES NO
Who is the intended audience? (children or adults, general public or scholars, etc.) ___________________
Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)? YES NO
Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
YES NO
Would you be comfortable citing this source in a research paper?
YES NO
Authority: The source of the information.
SCORE (1 = worst, 10 = best)
______________
Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor? (Usually located in the footer)____________________________________
Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations provided? _____________________________________
Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address? YES NO
What does the URL reveal about the author or source?
o
o
o
o
o
edu -- at or by an educational institution
com -- by a commercial entity
org -- by an organization
gov -- by a government institution
net – network providers
o
mil – military organization
________________________________________________________________________________________
TRY IT: A domain query is simple. Go to Whois.net and search for the name of the website. However, don't use the
http:// prefix. For example, the website for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is http://www.ushmm.org/, but
you would only use “ushmm.org” to do your search.
Based on California State University, Chico’s CRAAP Test
Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the informational content.
SCORE (1 = worst, 10 = best)
______________
Where does the information come from? ______________________________________________________
Is the information supported by evidence? _____________________________________________________
Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge? YES NO
Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
YES NO
Are there spelling, grammar or other typographical errors?
YES NO
TRY IT: To see if your site is a reliable source, you can use the link: command to get a list of pages that link to the
page you are studying. See what these pages have to say about your site. You can Click on one of the sites and see how
your link is used. Do they use it as an example of a biased site or do they cite it as a credible site?
Go to google.com and do a search for link:http://www.ushmm.org/ (with no spaces) to find the sites that link to it.
Purpose: The reason the information exists.
SCORE (1 = worst, 10 = best) ______________
What is the purpose of the information? To: inform
teach
sell
entertain
persuade
Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
YES NO
The information is: fact
opinion
propaganda (trying to sell you on something)
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
YES NO
Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases? YES NO
45 – 50 Excellent
40 – 44 Good
TOTAL SCORE: _______________
35 – 39 Average
Below 35 - Unacceptable
Based on California State University, Chico’s CRAAP Test