1. Sara Memmott Social Work Librarian EMU Library smemmott@emich.edu
Evaluating Sources
Sara Memmott
Social Work Librarian
EMU Library

2. Why Evaluate Sources?
When you use information sources in your work, they should be credible and appropriate for your needs.
The following criteria provide guidelines for systematically evaluating sources.
Different criteria will be more or less important depending on your situation or need.

3. Criteria for Evaluating Sources
Currency
Relevance
Authority
Accuracy
Purpose
The CRAAP test is adapted from the Meriam Library at California State University Chico.

4. Currency: Timeliness of Info
When was the information published or posted?
Has the information been revised or updated?
Is the information current or out-of date for your topic?
Web sites: are the links functional?
If there is a reference list, does it include up-to-date sources?

5. Currency

6. Relevance: The Importance of the Info to Your Needs
Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
Who is the intended audience?
Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?

7. Relevance
What audience might find this web site relevant?

8. Authority: Who is the Source of the Info?
Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given? If yes, what are they?
What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
Is there contact information, such as an address, publisher or institution?
Web sites: does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net (See for an explanation.)

9. Authority

10. Accuracy: How Reliable, Truthful, or Correct is this Info?
Where does the information come from?
Is the information supported by evidence?
Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
Does the language or tone seem biased or free of emotion?
Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?

11. Accuracy
Is information supported by evidence?

12. Purpose: Why does the information exist?
What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

13. Purpose
What is the purpose of most .com websites?

14. Criteria for Evaluating Sources
Currency
Relevance
Authority
Accuracy
Purpose
The CRAAP test is adapted from the Meriam Library at California State University Chico.

15. Practice Time! Go to these two web sites about depression:
mplete-index.shtml
Take about 10 minutes and evaluate both sites.
Note your evaluations on the worksheet, including:
your answers to the CRAAP questions
the evidence that supports your evaluation
For this exercise, skip relevance, since this criteria only applies when you have a particular use for the resource.

16. Evaluating Sources— Taking it on the Road
What did you learn that built upon what you already know about evaluating sources?
How might you use some of these strategies to ensure that in the future, you evaluate sources effectively?