Discover some of the key criteria that you can use to evaluate the academic quality of information sources.
There are a number of different criteria and models that you can use to evaluate information sources. This tutorial will focus on the CRAAP test, one such model that you can apply. The CRAAP test consists of five main criteria that you can use to judge the academic quality of information:
- Currency
- Relevancy
- Authority
- Accuracy
- Purpose
Each criteria encourages you to ask a series of questions of your sources to help you determine if they should play a role in informing your work. This process does not need to be taxing or time consuming; indeed many of these checks can be completed without having to read the article or source you find in full.
Currency: the timeliness of the information
Relevancy: the importance of the information for your needs
Authority: the source of the information
Accuracy: the reliability and correctness of the content
Purpose: the reason the information exists
This activity provides an opportunity for you to put the CRAAP test into practice.
Bearing in mind the previous research topic:
The effects of regular coffee consumption on long-term health in adults.
Take a look at the source below and consider some of the key questions from the CRAAP test when answering the questions in the box on the right.
Source: Coffee A–Z: A Guide to the History, Types, Benefits, and Risks of the Buzzy Drink
University of Exeter LibGuide is licensed under CC BY 4.0