The document outlines a research session agenda focused on using Wikipedia as a starting point for academic research, specifically through the lens of a fictional hero like Batman. It emphasizes the importance of evaluating sources using the CRAP test—Currency, Reliability, Authority, and Purpose—and provides guidance on finding and using citations from various sources. The session includes activities aimed at applying the CRAP test to assess the credibility of online and offline resources.

1. Using Wikipedia to
Begin Research
Christina Janiczek
LIS 764: Fall 2011
Instruction Session

2. Agenda
 Look at Wikipedia article about a fictional hero
 Use the citations & references to find resources
 Evaluate resources using the CRAP test
 Class activity - Apply the CRAP test to a website

3. Citations & References
Wikipedia and beyond
 You can use this research strategy for just about
any source in which information is cited:
 Scholarly articles
 Your textbook
 Websites, etc.
 Looking at reference lists and bibliographies is an easy
way to start exploring the existing literature on a topic.

4. Batman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman

5. Citations & References
Information that comes from a credible source is (or should be) cited within
the article. **This is true of scholarly work too, including your own.**
> Click the citation to find the source, listed in the Notes section.

6. Citations & References
Books & other offline sources
Citations for books or other material not available online typically
include basic information, such as author name and page number.
The full citation is listed under References. To find the source at local library,
search the DU Online Catalog, I-Share or WorldCat.

7. Citations & References
Websites & online sources
Citations for online sources will link directly to the source.
Tips:
 Hover over each link before clicking to make sure the link leads where
you think it does.
 Open online sources in a new window or tab so you can get back
to the Wikipedia article easily.
> Click the link to view the article from The Guardian.

8. Evaluating Sources

9. Evaluating Sources
 Extremely important step!
 Make sure the information you use is credible and
appropriate for your project/paper.
 Especially important with online sources
 Highly changeable - information could be here today, gone
tomorrow
 Unidentified authors make it difficult to determine authority &
purpose

10. Evaluating Sources
 Apply the CRAP test:
 C is for… Currency
 R is for… Reliability
 A is for… Authority
 P is for… Purpose/Point of View
Adapted from Ken Orenic, Dominican University, http://loex2008collaborate.pbworks.com/w/page/18686701/
The%20CRAP%20Test

11. Now it’s your turn!
 Let’s say our topic is the transformations of
Batman over time.
 Apply the CRAP test to the article we looked
at earlier from The Guardian.
Take a minute to skim the article on your own.

12. Currency
o How recent is the information?
o How recently has the website been updated?
o Is it current enough for your topic?
Reliability
o Is content primarily fact or opinion?
o If there are opinions, are they balanced?
o Does the creator provide references or sources for
data or quotations?
Authority
o Who is the creator or author, and what are their
credentials?
o Who is the publisher or sponsor? Are they
reputable?
o What is the publisher's interest (if any) in this
information?
o Are there advertisements on the website?
Purpose/Point of View
o Is this fact or opinion?
o Is it biased?
o Is the creator/author trying to sell you something?

13. Discussion
 Would you include this resource in the
annotated bibliography?
 Why or why not?