Evaluating Your Sources

Do your resources pass the CRAAP test?

The CRAAP Test is an evaluating process that can help a researcher decide if a source is authentic, accurate, and reliable.  It was developed at California State University.

We all 'know' that not everything on the Internet is true, but can easily fall into a trap of fallacies.  Facts are often skewed to promote a particular agenda, especially on social media.  This little guide can help to avoid misconceptions and inaccuracies, especially in regards to online resources.

Components include:
            Currency
            Relevance
            Authority
            Accuracy
            Purpose

Here is the original print document that includes all of the key questions that students can refer to.

This handy rubric provides a quick and easy web evaluation tool.


Do you want to test out your students' search skills?
   Here is a list of 10 fake websites to try out:

1. Tree Octopus
2. Dog Island
3. Dehydrated Water
4. Martin Luther King Jr.
5. The Onion -may include adult content
6. The Currant
7. Pets or Food
8. DHMO.Org
9. All About Explorers
10. Bonsai Kitten
11. Male Pregnancy
12. Debate.org
13. Mankato

Authenticity issues are nothing new;
Read about how The Discovery Channel recently had some trouble after broadcasting 'fake' shows as real, but were actually intended for entertainment purposes only.

Even back in 1938, Orson Welles had many radio listeners afraid of invading aliens in his rendition of War of the Worlds.