COMM111 Susan Martin-WI23

Ideas brainstormed by COMM111 students during class. 

• What makes you trust an author?
  • Known experience in their field
  • Degrees or certifications / education
  • They rely on other experts
  • Have they written other things?
  • Well known
• What makes you trust the publisher? (website, organization, or sponsor)
  • Professional presentation
  • Date is available
  • Reputation
  • Little to no ads
  • Contact information
  • About us page
• How do you know the information is true and accurate?
  • Sources are cited
  • Do they support their claim?
  • References to other credible sources
  • Arguments / ideas not taken out of context
  • Study / lab / research information
  • Does the information match other things you've read?
• How do you recognize bias (or opinion vs fact)?
  • Tone
  • Sources available are not biased
  • Word choice
  • One-sided argument
  • Opinion section

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.

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}

Learn how to combat the problem of fake news, misinformation and disinformation! Fact-check, evaluate, and stop the spread of bad information using any and all of the tools below.

Evaluate information like a journalist

How to fact-check The Atlantic
Why does fact checking matter? Accuracy and truth. Learn about Research Chief for The Atlantic Yvonne Rolzhausen's process for fact checking information. (This article is a ~9 minute read.)

10 Tips for Fighting Fake News - How to Fact Check Like a Pro
Authored by Barbara Gray, Associate Professor and Chief Librarian at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism

Evaluate information using The CRAP Test

The CRAP Test is a helpful tool to use when deciding if a source is high-quality and credible. CRAP stands for currency, reliability, authority and purpose. These are four areas to consider when evaluating a source.

Evaluate information using The SIFT Method

The SIFT method by Mike Caulfield provides four quick moves you can do when evaluating an online source. Learn more about using the SIFT method to sort fact from fiction related to COVID-19 at Sifting Through the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Use Fact-Checking websites

CCC Librarians' favorites are listed below.