WR121 Sean Warren

Sean's questions for evaluating a source:

1. Who is the author? What are his or her credentials? (Remember to Google!)
2. Where & by whom is the material published? What is known about the company, university, website, or publisher?
3. How current is the information?
4. Is there a bibliography or links to other sources?
5. Is the source carefully documented?
6. For books: how did critics review this book? (Use Google Scholar and the library databases)
7. Do other sources refer back to this source? (Use Google Scholar to find out)
8. Is this a primary (original text, research study, or interview) or secondary source (commentary on original text, study, or interview)?
9. Is the source intended for a general audience or a knowledgeable one? What can you tell about the intended audience?
10. How will this source help you with this paper? (Be specific.)

Ideas brainstormed by WR121 students during class. 

• What makes you trust an author?
  • Relevant education
  • Reviews of their work
  • Where they work
• What makes you trust the publisher? (website, organization, or sponsor)
  • Clout - know the reputation of the publisher
  • Look for conflict of information
  • Check "About us" page
  • Are their advertisements?
• How do you know the information is true and accurate?
  • Information matches other sources
  • Citation list
  • Has the source been cited by others?
  • Is there data available?
• How do you recognize bias (or opinion vs fact)?
  • "I think" "I feel" - often mean opinion
  • Consider the author/publisher - what else have they reported on?
  • Do you question any part of it? Does any part of it seem untrue?
  • Tone
  • Is it called an "Opinion Piece"?
  • Are their ads?

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}

There are many ways to evaluate information sources. Some of our other favorites are listed below.

• Evaluating information checklist - online checklist (Lone Star College)
• Evaluating your sources - tutorial (UNC, Chapel Hill)
• SPAT website evaluation tool - (University of Pittsburgh)
• The CRAAP Test (CSU, Chico)