How do you know if something you find on the open web is reliable? Anyone can publish information to the Internet so not all information you find on the web is accurate or even true. In fact, a lot of information is biased, controversial or just plain wrong! Not knowing what information is reliable can be dangerous! Be sure to thoroughly evaluate all information you find on the open web for accuracy and reliability. Try the CRAAP* test:
| C | Currency | When was it published? Has it been updated or revised? |
| R | Relevancy |
What would you use the information for? Does it support your research? |
| A | Authority | Who wrote it? Who is responsible for the information? |
| A | Accuracy | Where did the information come from? Are sources cited? |
| P | Purpose | Why was it written? Is it factual, entertaining or persuasive? |
*Adapted from CSU, Chico CRAAP Test
ACTIVITY: Apply the CRAAP Test to the following sources:
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SOURCE #1: Visit the following: https://www.healthline.com/health/grounding Pay particular attention to Accuracy & Authority Are references cited? Who wrote this article? How many authors are there? Is contact information readily available for the author(s)? |
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SOURCE #2: Visit the following: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/3-earthing-methods-how-to-find-right-one-for-you Pay particular attention to Purpose Why does mindbodygreen exist? What is their overall purpose? What are their privacy or data collection policies? |
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SOURCE #3: Visit the following: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550830719305476?via%3Dihub Pay particular attention to Accuracy & Authority Are references cited? Who wrote this article? How many authors are there? Is contact information readily available for the author(s)? |
Apply the CRAAP Test to the web sources linked below:
Apply the CRAAP Test to the scholarly sources linked below: