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Evaluating Information Sources: Home

This guide is about evaluating information sources

Guide author: Library & Information Science student

Ma. Quennie A. Macuro
Student

E-mail: ma.quennie.macuro-18@cpu.edu.ph

Note: This guide was created as one of the requirements for the LIS subject, Information Literacy.

This Guide's objectives:

Evaluating information encourages you to think critically about the reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, point of view or bias of information sources.

  • To define what is Evaluating Information sources
  • To identify the importance of evaluating information sources
  • To identify the evaluation tools in evaluating information sources
  • To explain the CRAAP test
  • Evaluating Source Credibility: The CRAAP Test

Evaluating Information Sources

What is evaluating Information Sources?

Evaluating information encourages you to think critically about the reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, point of view or bias of information sources.

Just because a book, article, or website matches your search criteria and thus seems, at face value, to be relevant to your research, does not mean that it is necessarily a reliable source of information.

It is important to remember that sources of information comprising the Library's print and electronic collections have already been evaluated for inclusion among the Library's resources. However, this does not necessarily mean that these sources are relevant to your research

Why Is It Important To Evaluate Sources?

Evaluating information sources is a important part of the research process. Not all information is reliable or true, nor will all information be suitable for your paper or project. Print and Internet sources vary widely in their authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage. Users must be able to critically evaluate the appropriateness of all types of information sources prior to relying on the information.

  • To find the most relevant information for your topic and assignment
  • To ensure the quality and reliability of your research
  • To find expert views, opinions, and research on your topic
  • To weed out unreliable, biased, outdated, and/or incorrect information
  • To make sure you get the information your professor is seeking

CRAAP Test

CRAAP is an acronym for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. Use the CRAAP Test to evaluate your sources.

  • 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

ABCD Test

ABCD is an acronym for Author, Bias, Content, and Date

  • Author: After you find a source of information that you might want to use, think about the author(s) of the source.  Are the authors experts and qualified to write on the topic?
  • Bias: Look for any bias in the information.  Does the information presented cover all sides of the topic in a neutral, objective manner?  
  • Content: Critically evaluate the actual content of the document. Also, focus on the accuracy of the content.  Does the information match your understanding of the topic and can you verify the claims in other sources?  Compare its findings to those of other related articles.  Do not rely on only one source.
  • Date: Consider when the information was published, updated, or revised.  Has the information become outdated?  Also, look at the date of the reference list provided.  Are those sources too old?

5 W's website evaluation

5 W's (Who, What, When, Where, & Why) of Website Evaluation in order to determine whether a website is reliable.

WHO is the author of the page? Is the author an expert?
WHAT is the purpose of the site? WHAT information is provided? Does the information seem like fact or an opinion? What is the domain?

Reliable Check Carefully
.edu: school, college, university
.gov: government agency 		  .com a business trying to sell something
.org sometimes they have an opinion
wikis & blogs - usually presents opinion

WHEN was the site created? (Usually the date is at the bottom of the page ) WHEN was it updated?
WHERE does the information come from? WHERE can I look to find out more about the author of the site?
WHY is this information useful?  WHY should I use this information?

The CRAAP Test helps students learn the difference between appropriate and inappropriate sources for papers and bibliographies by prompting them to evaluate five basic elements of the sources: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. Our hope is that this module will help your students find appropriate academic sources, thus enhancing their research.

Currency: the timeliness of the information

  •     When was the information published or posted?
  •     Has the information been revised or updated?
  •     Is the information current or out-of date for your topic?
  •     Are the links functional?   

Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs

  •     Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
  •     Who is the intended audience?
  •     Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
  •     Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
  •     Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?

Authority: the source of the information

  •     Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
  •     Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
  •     What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
  •     What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
  •     Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
  •     Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?
    • examples:
      •             .com (commercial), .edu (educational), .gov (U.S. government)
      •             .org (nonprofit organization), or
      •             .net (network)

Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content

  •     Where does the information come from?
  •     Is the information supported by evidence?
  •     Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
  •     Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
  •     Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?
  •     Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?

Purpose: the reason the information exists

  •     What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
  •     Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
  •     Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
  •     Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
  •     Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

Library Resources on Evaluating Information Sources

Information or misinformation: Evaluating sources in the digital age
Author: Herlihy, Alexandra
Publication date: 2020

Informations sources and their trustworthy information
Author: Čapek, Jan
Publication date: 2001

Dependable and Trustworthy Information System under Regional Restrictions
Author: Fujikawa, Hiroshi.
Publication date: 2013

Criteria for trustworthy information systems
Author: Rounds, Shawn.
Publication date: 2002

Trustworthy Insurance: Information timing and telling the truth
Author: Hirsch, Penny L
Publication Date: 1998