What Is the CRAAP Test? | Examples & Definition

In academic writing, it is vital that you rely on credible sources to build on and reinforce your argument. The CRAAP test is a tool you can use to test a source’s credibility to ensure that the information you use is reliable.

Using the CRAAP test, which was developed in 2004 by librarians at California State University, is an information literacy skill that will serve you well as an academic writer and researcher.

The CRAAP test can be applied to evaluate a range of sources.

Journal articles

Academic journals often have rigorous standards for the materials they publish and are therefore respected resources for research. Journals frequently use peer review to edit works before publication, further enhancing articles’ credibility and quality.

How to evaluate a journal article

When evaluating the credibility of a journal article, ask yourself:

• Is the journal peer reviewed? The journal should share information about its peer review processes, and the members of the review panel should be included alongside each article.
• Is the journal indexed in academic databases? Is this a reputable journal? Has it had to retract articles in the past for reliability issues?
• Has the author written other articles, and how many times have they been cited? You can use Google Scholar to check an author’s publication history and the number of citations an article has, which serves as an indicator of credibility. Use the “Cited By” tool to see where the author has been cited.

Google Scholar and databases such as JSTOR, EBSCO, Sage Publications, PubMed, and Project Muse host numerous journals. You can also take advantage of your university’s library, which may grant you access to subscription databases.

Books

Books are often assumed to be reliable sources, but it is nevertheless important to consider the reasons behind a book’s publication, the author, and the publisher. Books may sometimes have underlying commercial interests or sponsors funding their publication, which can affect their credibility.

In general, academic publishers and university presses are reliable publishers of books with strong credibility.

How to evaluate a book

When evaluation the credibility of a book, ask yourself:

• What is the publication date? Is this book up to date for the topic of interest?
• Are there multiple editions of this book? Newer editions of a book reflect that the materials are up to date and the author is continuing to optimize the information.
• Who is the author? Does this person have expertise in their field?
• Who is the publisher? Is the publisher reputable? What credibility and accuracy checks do they perform to ensure the content is reliable?
• Is the purpose behind publishing the book clear? The book should be informative and educational; it should not be making attempts to persuade the reader to adopt a particular belief or buy something.

News articles

News articles require careful evaluation. While some news sources have strong reputations built on meticulous journalistic standards, others might be biased, targeted to certain audiences, or poorly researched. Some news articles are “clickbait” or may be satirical rather than factual.

Given the prevalence of “fake news,” it has become crucial to vet news articles for credibility, particularly for online sources. Generally, it is better to use news articles to provide background on your topic, with academic sources being used to provide the key content for analysis.

How to evaluate a news article

When evaluating the credibility of a news source, ask yourself:

• Is the article published in a reputable and established news source? Credible news sources engage in vigorous fact-checking, source articles from respected journalists, and correct or withdraw articles if needed.
• Is the author a credible journalist? Reputable journalists strive for objectivity in their content and stick to unbiased, factual information. They adhere to ethical journalistic standards.
• Is the article fact-based and unbiased? The article should be objective and present multiple viewpoints with fairness.
• Does the article link back to or refer to credible primary sources? Use the links in news articles to find useful primary sources.

Certain types of articles published in newspapers and magazines, such as letters to the editor or opinion pieces (op-eds), are inherently subjective and therefore not considered credible sources.

Web sources

Websites are a commonly used resource during the research process, but the credibility of their content is often murky.

Websites do not undergo the peer-review or editing processes that academic journal articles and books do, and resources like Wikipedia are open to editing by anyone.

Websites therefore require an extra dose of care when evaluating credibility.

Begin by examining the website’s URL:

• Educational resources like university libraries end in .edu and are considered trustworthy.
• Government-affiliated websites end in .gov and are generally considered trustworthy.
• Non-profit-organization and advocacy websites end in .org. These sites are generally considered trustworthy, but be sure to check the content for bias.
• General websites or sites with a commercial aspect end in .com. These sites can be trustworthy, but be sure to evaluate the content for credibility.

Watch out for native advertising on online sources, which has become increasingly pervasive in recent years. Native advertisements are embedded in the site’s content and match the look and feel of everything else on the page.

Native advertising indicates that one is actually consuming advertising rather than reading a credible source. News sources that incorporate native advertising lose credibility.

How to evaluate a web source

When evaluating the credibility of websites, ask yourself:

• When was the web page published and last updated? Using updated information is key for strong academic writing, particularly if your topic is related to current events or innovative research. If you study a subject that is less time-sensitive, such as literature or history, publication date may be less relevant. Nevertheless, it is still important to check that the website is updated regularly as this indicates credibility.
• Is the layout professional? Websites that feature heavy advertising or sponsored content may not be credible. Unconventional fonts and pop-ups can also indicate that the content is not trustworthy for academic research.
• Are the links on the webpage functional? Do the links work and direct to reputable sources?
• Is the author an expert in their field? Details of the author’s qualifications and background should be available on the site either at the bottom of the article or on the “About” page. Content published anonymously is generally not accepted as credible.
• What is the author’s motivation for publishing this material? Sources that seek to make a profit from readers or to influence readers’ beliefs are not credible. Rather, seek sources that are published for academic purposes.

Frequently asked questions about the CRAAP test

What does accuracy mean in the CRAAP test?

The “Accuracy” component of the CRAAP test for evaluating sources refers to whether the information in a source is correct, factually based, and supported by evidence. Consider where the information has come from and the source itself. For example, was it published by a reputable source, and are you able to verify the claims?

What does relevance mean in the CRAAP test?

The “Relevance” component of the CRAAP test for evaluating sources refers to whether the information in a source is related to your research subject. Consider if the information adds something to your argument and whether the information is intended for a specialized audience.

What is the definition of peer review?

Academic journals use peer review processes to evaluate submissions for publication. Experts in the subject area use defined criteria to measure the quality of a text and determine suitability for publication.

The peer review process results in high-quality publications, which is why academic journals are often considered the most credible sources.

If a source doesn’t use a peer review process, you can use the CRAAP test to determine whether it is credible.