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Online Research Instruction

Evaluating News Articles

Using the CRAAP Test for Evaluating

The CRAAP Test:

  • Currency: How old is the information? When was the website created? Has the website been updated or edited recently?
  • Relevance: Does the information relate to my topic? 
  • Authority: Who wrote the information? Does the author have professional degrees? Are the degrees related to the information presented?
  • Accuracy: Is the information accurate? Are there statistics or charts? Can the information be verified in another source? Who is the information written for: students, researchers, scientists, general public?
  • Purpose: Is the information trying to sell you a product? Does the information promote one idea or arguement? Is there an overall bias to the information?

Scholarly vs. Popular Sources

Identifying Popular Magazines:

  • published weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly
  • wide variety of interests (food, celebrities, parenting, book reviews, etc)
  • shiny or glossy covers
  • lots of images (including celebrities) and lots of advertisements
  • short articles, including editorials (or opinion pieces)

Identifying Scholarly Journals:

  • published monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly
  • specific topics relating to a field of study
  • articles written by professionals in a field of study (biologists, historians, researchers)
  • limited or no advertisements
  • images are less glossy and may include charts, graphs, or tables
  • longer articles and typically include a list of References/Bibliography

 

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Primary Sources include, but are not limited to:

  • Letters and diaries
  • Original photographs, works of art, sound recordings
  • Newspaper article from a specific date/event

 

Secondary Sources include, but are not limited to:

  • Literary or artistic criticisms
  • Reviews
  • Commentaries
  • Analyses
  • Interpretations

Evaluating Websites

In addition to using The CRAAP Test for website evaluation, think about these questions as well:

  • Mission/Vision/About Us: Is there an "About Us" or "Contact Us" page/link that provides detailed information? Can you locate a mailing address or phone number?
  • Credentials: Is the website backed by a national organization or professional in a field of study? Can you locate their contact or educational background information?
  • Currency: Can you locate a date when the website was created? When was the website last revised or edited?
  • Links: Are their links to other websites? Is the website loaded with links to external sites? Are those external sites reputable sites or advertisements? 
  • Domain: what does the URL end with? 
    • .org organization (reserved for organizations-be careful as .org can include non-profit and for-profit organizations with a specific persuasive argument)
    • .edu education site (reserved for college, university, school use)
    • .gov government site (reserved for governmental purposes)
    • .com commercial (most typical form of website address-anyone can purchase a .com site address)

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