What is the CRAAP Test?

EGCC Library and Information Commons

20 Dec 202103:53

Summary

TLDRIn 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.

Outlines

00:00

👋 Introduction to the CRAAP Test

Julia, a reference and instruction librarian at Eastern Gateway Community College, introduces herself and the purpose of the video. The video focuses on reviewing the CRAAP test, which is a set of criteria used to evaluate the quality, credibility, and usefulness of information sources. CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. Julia briefly mentions that the upcoming sections will explore these criteria in more detail and provide important questions to ask when evaluating sources.

🕒 Currency: Is the Information Up-to-Date?

The first criterion of the CRAAP test is currency, which focuses on how current or timely the information is. This is particularly important in fields where information changes rapidly, such as technology or science. Key questions to consider include whether the topic requires current information, when the source was published or updated, whether the links are functional, and if the information seems outdated or obsolete.

🎯 Relevance: Does It Fit Your Needs?

Relevance examines how well the information meets your assignment requirements or research topic. It is essential to ensure that the information aligns with your needs and is appropriate for the intended audience. Important questions to ask include whether the information is related to your topic, who the intended audience is, and whether the information is too technical or overly simplified for your purpose.

👩‍🏫 Authority: Who Created the Information?

Authority refers to the credibility and expertise of the author, creator, or publisher of the information. It's important to verify that the author is qualified to write about the topic by investigating their credentials, past works, and whether their work is frequently cited by other experts. Key questions to ask include who the author is, whether they are an expert, the reliability of the publisher, and if their credentials can be found online. Additionally, checking whether the author’s work is cited by other experts can provide insight into their credibility.

📚 Accuracy: Is the Information Reliable?

Accuracy focuses on whether the information is supported by credible evidence and peer-reviewed by experts. Peer-reviewed sources are considered more reliable as they have been vetted by experts in the field. Questions to consider include whether the information is backed by credible evidence, whether it has undergone peer review, whether the tone is unbiased, whether the citations support the author's claims, and whether the information aligns with what other experts in the field say.

🎯 Purpose: Why Was the Information Created?

The final criterion, purpose, examines the main reason or rationale behind the information. Different types of sources can have various purposes, such as to inform, educate, persuade, or entertain. For academic purposes, it’s essential to seek information that aims to educate or inform. Important questions include why the author created the information, whether there is bias or prejudice, if alternative perspectives are provided, and the overall tone of the information.

📹 Using the CRAAP Test in Practice

Julia concludes the video by mentioning that another video demonstrates how to apply the CRAAP test to evaluate two online sources. She encourages viewers to check the video linked in the description and invites them to reach out to the library for any questions regarding the CRAAP test or evaluating information sources in general. Contact methods include email or live chat through the Eastern Gateway Community College library website.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡CRAAP test

The CRAAP test is a tool used to evaluate the quality and reliability of information sources. It stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. In the video, Julia explains how each of these criteria helps in determining the usefulness of information, especially for research and academic assignments.

💡Currency

Currency refers to how recent or timely the information is. It's especially important in rapidly changing fields like technology or science, where outdated information could be misleading. In the video, Julia emphasizes asking questions such as when the information was published or last updated to ensure its relevance to current research needs.

💡Relevance

Relevance refers to how closely the information aligns with the research topic or assignment requirements. In the video, it is suggested that the audience consider whether the information is written for an appropriate audience and whether it fits their research question. Julia encourages asking if the information is too technical or too simplified for the intended use.

💡Authority

Authority pertains to the credibility and qualifications of the author or publisher of the information. Julia explains that checking the author's credentials, previous works, and how often their work is cited by other experts helps in determining their expertise. This step ensures that the information is coming from a trustworthy and knowledgeable source.

💡Accuracy

Accuracy refers to the reliability and truthfulness of the information, particularly whether it is supported by credible evidence. Julia highlights the importance of using peer-reviewed sources, as these have been vetted by experts. She also advises checking if the information matches other expert opinions and whether the citations and references support the author's claims.

💡Purpose

Purpose refers to the reason why the information was created. Julia explains that understanding whether the content is meant to inform, persuade, entertain, or educate is critical in assessing its usefulness for academic research. It’s important to look for biases or alternative perspectives, depending on the author’s intent.

💡Peer-reviewed sources

Peer-reviewed sources are articles or studies that have been evaluated by experts in the same field before being published. Julia mentions these as particularly reliable for academic purposes since the content has been scrutinized for accuracy and credibility. This makes peer-reviewed sources an important criterion for assessing the accuracy of information.

💡Bias

Bias refers to the presence of prejudice or a one-sided perspective in the information. Julia advises viewers to be cautious of biased sources, as they may present a skewed version of the facts. She encourages checking whether alternative perspectives are presented, especially when evaluating the purpose of the source.

💡Credentials

Credentials refer to the qualifications and background of the author or creator of the information. Julia explains that understanding an author’s credentials helps determine their authority on a subject. This can involve checking their academic degrees, past publications, or professional experience relevant to the topic being discussed.

💡URL

The URL of a website can sometimes reveal important information about the credibility of the source. Julia points out that URLs can indicate the type of organization behind the information (e.g., .edu, .gov, .org), which may provide insights into its reliability. She suggests analyzing URLs as part of evaluating the authority and purpose of the information.

Highlights

Introduction to the CRAAP test

CRAAP test criteria for evaluating information quality

Definition of currency in the CRAAP test

Importance of currency in rapidly changing fields

Questions to ask about currency

Definition of relevance in the CRAAP test

Determining if information fits assignment requirements

Questions to ask about relevance

Definition of authority in the CRAAP test

Evaluating the author's credibility and expertise

Questions to ask about authority

Definition of accuracy in the CRAAP test

Reliability of information and peer-review

Questions to ask about accuracy

Definition of purpose in the CRAAP test

Determining the main reason for the information

Questions to ask about purpose

Practical application of the CRAAP test in another video

How to contact EGCC library for further questions

Conclusion and thanks for watching