HE263 Pantages

Evaluating information is especially important when completing projects and assignments in college (and at work!) because you will be evaluated on the quality of sources you use. The CRAP Test is a helpful tool to use when deciding if a source is "good." CRAP stands for Currency, Reliability, Authority and Purpose / Point of View.

When you evaluate a source, consider these four concepts by asking yourself a few questions about each.

Currency

• When was the item originally written or created?
• How recently has the item been updated?
• Is the information current enough for your topic?

Reliability

• How important is it for you that this information is accurate?
• Are there Works Cited or References, informal citations, or links to outside sources? Are sources included for data, quotations, and images?
• Was the item reviewed by experts or people with relevant experience?
• Does this information have any characteristics of misinformation, disinformation, or fake news?
• Does the information seem accurate based on your existing knowledge of the subject?

Authority

• Who is the creator or author? What does it mean if you cannot identify the creator or author?
• What are their credentials? Can you find any information about the author's background, education, and/or experience?
• Who is the publisher, sponsor, or hosting website? Are they reputable? What is the publisher's interest (if any) in sharing this information? What is on their "About Us" page?

Purpose / Point of View

• Does the information help you answer your questions, learn widely about your topic, and / or think about your topic in new ways?
• Is the information fact or opinion?
• Can you identify bias in the article? Does the information amplify certain viewpoints or experiences? Does the information omit or misconstrue certain viewpoints or experiences?
• Is this information meant to educate you, persuade you, sell you something, and / or appeal to your emotions or values? If so, are these intentions clearly stated?
• Who is the intended audience for this information? How might the audience impact what is shared and how (e.g., does this resource require in-depth knowledge to understand)? Is this information intended for you and your information needs?

^{CRAP Test adapted from Beestrum, M., & Orenic, K. (2008). The CRAP test. Available from http://commons.emich.edu}

CRAP works for evaluating articles and websites. In class you will practice applying it to online sources listed below.

For this exercise your research topic is: "Does marijuana help people with chronic pain?"

• Group 1: Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Not Ready for Prime Time  |  The Best 5 Marijuana Strains for Chronic Pain Relief
• Group 2: Substitution of Marijuana for Opioids in a National Survey of US Adults  |  Cannabinoids for Chronic Pain: An Opioid Alternative?
• Group 3: Navigating Cannabis Options for Chronic Pain  |  Smoked Cannabis for Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial 
• Group 4: CBD Oil: All the Rage, But Is It Safe and Effective?  |  Cannabinoids in the Management of Difficult to Treat Pain
• Group 5: What Drives Patients to Use Medical Marijuana: Mostly Chronic Pain  |  Why do Most Patients Use Medical Marijuana? Chronic Pain 
• Group 6: Does CBD Oil Work for Chronic Pain Management?  |  Marijuana and Public Health

It depends on what "it" is, and the context in which you're using it. Think about the type of information (e.g., a tweet, a painting) and what you expect of it in terms of quality and in terms of your intended use of it. We'll do this together in class.

Also, I find that asking myself these questions helps me decide if information is good to use:

1. Is there thoughtful substance to this information?
2. Can I identify an author?
3. Does this information seem trustworthy to me?
4. Do I trust the publisher of this information (could be a website, blog, magazine, corporation)?
5. If this is an opinion piece, is it fact-based or totally coming out of left field?
6. How old is this information and does that matter?
7. Could you talk about this topic around the water cooler?
8. Does this source ask questions? Is it philosophical?
9. Is the source long enough to actually share good, meaty information?

Here are some tips for making sure the information you have is accurate and reliable:

• Find the original source.
• Can you find the same information elsewhere from a credible source?
• Go ahead and Google!
• Click on the links in the article/on the website - do they go to trustworthy places?
• Research the author to learn their expertise and credentials.
• Read the "about us" section.
• Use a fact-checking site.