Douglas D. Schumann Library & Learning Commons: ELMC 5000: Senior Design I: Evaluating Sources

Getting Started

Finding sources is one thing -- evaluating whether the source is useful depends on whether the source is credible and provides facts or expert opinion appropriate for your research question.

Purdue OWL - Evaluating Sources Overview

How Do You Know When a Source is Credible?

For quick tips to help help judge the trustworthiness of all sources, check out this video from NCSU Libraries.

CRAAP Test

There is a lot of information out there. How do you decide whether it's good information? Try using the criteria in the CRAAP Test, (created by Sarah Blakeslee of the University of California at Chico's Meriam Library) to evaluate the sources you're considering. CRAPP stands for:

Currency - The timeliness of the information.
Relevance - The importance of the information for your needs.
Authority - The source of the information.
Accuracy - The reliability truthfulness and correctness of the content.
Purpose - The reason the information exists.

CRAAP Test
Should you consider using that resource or is it crappy? The CRAAP test gives you a set of guidelines to consider when evaluating a source of information. Remember, this isn't a checklist, but you should carefully consider each item.

Tips for Evaluating Websites

For a great introduction geared specifically towards the evaluation of websites, check out this video from the Community College of Vermont's Hartness Library!