This document discusses how to evaluate web sources using the CRAAP test. The CRAAP test stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. It provides guidelines for assessing sources based on these criteria. Currency relates to how current the information is. Relevance means how closely the information relates to the research topic. Authority evaluates the source's credentials. Accuracy examines if the information is supported by evidence. Purpose determines if the information is fact, opinion, or propaganda. Applying the CRAAP test helps ensure sources are reliable and suitable for research. The document encourages reviewing sources critically before using them.

1. How to Evaluate
Web Sources
NCAD Library

2. Evaluation ……..WHY?
● Fake news or Fake facts!
● Academic scholarly work is assessed on its
accuracy of information
● Opinion or research!

3. ● Evaluating
Websites
● There are numerous websites and blogs available on
the internet but some may not be accurate, creditable
or useful for Fine Arts.
● Anyone can put anything online!
● Therefore, always carefully evaluate a source - no
matter how reliable it seems to be - before using it for
your research.

4. How to Evaluate
Information & Sources
Currency, Relevancy, Authority,
Accuracy and Purpose (CRAAP Test)
Once you have found information it is important to
evaluate it so that you can ensure that you use the
information that works best for your project or
research. One way of doing this is by performing the
CRAAP test on your sources.
The CRAAP Test was developed by the Meriam Library at California State
University, Chico.

5. Currency relates to the timeliness of the resources
● When was the information published or posted?
● Has the information been revised or updated?
● Is it important to have current information, or will older
sources work as well?
● Are all the links working?
Website
● The publication date – this is the date when an article is
first uploaded on to a public website where humans and
search engines can find and access that page.
● For articles published online, the first place to look for the
publication date is right beneath the article title. The date
may also be displayed at the end of an article, near the
author biography. As a last resort, check the footer area of
the website where the article is published.

6. Relevance relates to the importance of the information
to you
● The information source selected must be suitable for the
intended audience and level of understanding.
● Does the information relate to your research or answer
your question?
● Have you looked at a range of of sources to be able to
judge that this sources is relevant?
● Are you comfortable citing this as a reputable source for
your research paper?
Tip
Is the information
directly related to
your topic or
question?

7. Authority relates to the source of the information
● Who is the author/publisher/source?
● What are the author's/organisation's credentials?
● Is the source qualified to write on the subject?
● Is there contact information and is it easy find out
more about the author/organisation?
● If it is a website, what does the URL (.com .ac .gov
.org .net) say about the source?

8. Check the URL (address) to assess the authority of a source. One part of the
URL indicates the type of domain:
● .ac - higher education college or university
● .gov - government agency or organization
● .com - commercial organization
● .net - network provider
● .org - non-profit organization
● .int - international
The origin of a web page can help you evaluate the legitimacy of a page.
Generally, you expect accurate information to be found at domains with .gov
or .ac and you can limit your searches to specific domains.
Authority - URL Address

9. Accuracy relates to the reliability of the
resource
● Where does the information come from?
● Is the information supported by correct
evidence - Research methods/ samples / trials?
● Can you verify any of the information in another
reliable source?
● Does the language or tone seem balanced,
unbiased and free from errors?

10. Purpose; relates to the reason the information
exists
● What is the purpose of the article? Why was it
written?
● Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
Is the information impartial and objective? Do
the authors make their intentions or purpose
clear?
● Are there any keywords that suggest partiality?

11. REVIEW
1. Look at the topic or question, is the most current information
required?
2. Look at the article you have, is it the most recent? What is the
publication date?
3. Is the information directly related to your question or topic?
4. What information shows it is relevant (or not)?
5. Who is the author? Are they an expert in the field? What are
they an expert in?
6. Do you think the information in the article is accurate? Why?
7. Do you think the journal article has been checked by an editor or
been peer-reviewed? Why?
8. What is the purpose of the article? (Review, research etc)

12. Video: How Library Stuff Works: How to
Evaluate Resources (the CRAAP Test)
McMaster Libraries Published on 23 Jan 2015

13. Good luck!
For more information on using
Library resources contact Maeve or
Tom in the Library
Maeve McElligott
mcelligottm@staff.ncad.ie
Tom Maher
mahert@staff.ncad.ie

14. References:
● Library and Archives, UCL Institute of Education, (2019) Evaluating Resources: CRAAP Test.
Available at: https://libguides.ioe.ac.uk/evaluating/craap (accessed 30th January 2019)
● UC San Diego (2018), Pruss School Website Evaluation. Available at
https://ucsd.libguides.com/preuss/webeval (accessed 30th January 2019)
● NUS Libraries (2018) SKILLS: Overview of CRAAP. Available at
http://libguides.nus.edu.sg/skills/evaluate/craap (accessed 29th January 2019)
● ACRL (2011) Guidelines for Instruction Programs in Academic Libraries. Available at
http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/guidelinesinstruction (accessed 20th January 2019)
● ACRL (2016) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Available at
http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework (accessed 22nd January 2019)