The C.R.A.P Test Analyzing Websites K. Lepkowski Gananda MS September 2011

How to tell if a website is... a good source for your research

C.R.A.P. Test Currency Example: Acne App When was it created? (look for © at the bottom) When was it updated? Are there dead links? Is the information current enough for your research? Example: Acne App

C.R.A.P. Test Reliability Example: Tobacco Addiction Does the author present facts (using evidence/research) or opinions? Are there sources listed for quotations and data? How balanced is the information? Example: Tobacco Addiction

C.R.A.P. Authority Example: Diet Pills Who is the author of the page? What proof do you see the author is an expert? Look for “About Me” If no author, what organization is connected to it? What makes the organization an expert? Look for “About Us” or “Contact Us” What is the URL domain? Example: Diet Pills

URL Domains .com companies, or online services like AOL.com .edu educational groups/colleges/universities .gov U.S. government agencies .net networks/Internet Service Providers (frontier.net) .mil U.S. military .org noncommercial organizations (spca.org)

C.R.A.P. Purpose/Point of View Do you see facts with evidence (research) or opinions? Is the information biased? (prejudiced) How much of the website features ads? Are the advertisements connected to the webpage information? Is the author trying to sell you something? Example: FatFoe Pads

Now it’s your turn to use ... The C.R.A.P. Test Currency Reliability Authority Purpose/Point of View

My Sources http://loex2008collaborate.pbworks.com/The+CRAP+Test http://www.landmark.edu/Library/course_guides/C.R.A.P.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jch3JNJ8lco