What is the CRAAP Test?

Summary

In this video, Julia, a librarian at Eastern Gateway Community College, introduces the CRAAP test, a tool for evaluating the quality, credibility, and usefulness of information. CRAAP stands for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose. Julia explains each criterion and provides guiding questions to help users assess information effectively, particularly for academic research. She highlights the importance of up-to-date, relevant, and reliable information, as well as identifying the purpose behind it. Viewers are encouraged to contact the library with any questions or for further assistance in evaluating sources.

Takeaways

• 📅 CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose – criteria used to evaluate the quality of information.
• 🕒 Currency refers to the timeliness of information, crucial in rapidly changing fields like technology and science.
• 🔍 Relevance assesses how well the information fits the assignment requirements or research topic.
• 🧑‍🏫 Authority involves the credibility and expertise of the author, creator, and publisher of the information.
• 🔍 Accuracy is about the reliability of information, supported by credible evidence and often peer-reviewed.
• 🎯 Purpose considers the main reason or rationale behind the creation of the information.
• 🤔 Ask yourself if the information is current, relevant to your topic, comes from an authoritative source, is accurate, and serves your intended purpose.
• 🔗 Check if the links within the information are functional and if the information seems up-to-date.
• 🧐 Investigate the author's credentials, past works, and how often other experts cite their work to establish authority.
• 📚 Look for credible evidence, peer-review status, unbiased language, and supporting citations to determine accuracy.
• ✍️ Consider the author's intent, presence of bias, alternative perspectives, and overall tone to understand the purpose of the information.
• 🔗 There is a follow-up video demonstrating how to use the CRAAP test on online information sources.

Q & A

What is the CRAAP test used for?

The CRAAP test is used to evaluate the quality, credibility, and usefulness of information sources by examining factors such as currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.

What does the acronym CRAAP stand for?

CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.

Why is currency important when evaluating information?

Currency is important because information in fields like technology or science can change rapidly, and having up-to-date information ensures that it is still accurate and relevant.

What questions should you ask yourself about the currency of information?

You should ask: Does your topic require current information? When was the information published or last updated? Are the links functional? Does the information seem outdated or obsolete?

How can you assess the relevance of information?

To assess relevance, ask: Does the information relate to your topic? What kind of audience is it intended for? Is it written in a way that is either too technical or too simplified for your needs?

What is meant by 'authority' in the CRAAP test?

Authority refers to the credibility of the author, creator, or publisher. It is important to ensure that the author is qualified to write about the topic based on their credentials and expertise.

How can you verify the authority of an author or source?

You can verify authority by investigating the author's credentials, reviewing their past work, checking how often their work is cited by others, and determining if the publisher is reliable.

Why is accuracy important when evaluating information?

Accuracy is important because reliable information should be supported by credible evidence and peer-reviewed by experts to ensure its validity. This reduces the likelihood of bias or incorrect information.

What questions can help assess the accuracy of information?

To assess accuracy, ask: Is the information supported by credible evidence? Has it been peer-reviewed? Does the language or tone seem unbiased? Do citations support the author's claims?

What does 'purpose' refer to in the CRAAP test, and why is it important?

Purpose refers to the reason or motivation behind the creation of the information. Understanding the purpose helps identify whether the information is meant to inform, persuade, educate, or entertain, which can influence its bias and reliability.