Skip to Main Content

BIO-471: Biology Capstone (Symington & Reid)

Research guide for BIO 471

               Spot Bad Science

 

Develop Basic Sleuthing Skills with the CRAAP Test

 

The C.R.A.A.P test is a method for evaluating an information source based on the following criteria: currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose/point of view. It is especially important to carefully evaluate information found on the Web. As you review your information sources, consider these questions:

Currency
  • What is the date of publication? How recent is the information?
  • Check the citations in the reference section - are most of them current or recent? Some older citations may be to seminal articles, which is acceptable.
  • If a web source, how recently has it been updated?
  • Is it current enough for your topic?
 
Relevance
  • What kind of information is included in the resource?
  • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
  • Does it add something new and important to your knowledge of the topic?
  • How detailed is the information? 
  • 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? 
 
Authority
  • Who is the creator or author?
  • What are the author(s) credentials?
  • Who is the publisher or sponsor; are they reputable?
  • What is the publisher's interest (if any) in this information? If the source received funding, is there any possible conflict of interest? 
 
Accuracy 
  • Where does the information come from?
  • Is the information supported by evidence?
  • Does the author provide references or sources for data?
  • Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
  • Can you verify the information in another source?
  • What is the methodology used in the study? 
    • Does it make sense to you why the researchers made choices regarding the selection of methodology?
    • Is there enough information presented to justify the claims?
    • Is underlying data available for review?
 
Purpose/Point of View
  • Is this fact or opinion?
  • Is it biased?
  • What is the purpose of the information? Are they trying to entertain, inform, persuade, market a product, or teach?
  • Is the creator/author trying to sell you something?
  • Who is the intended audience? (general public, subject experts)
  • Is there evidence of disclosure of funding sources and/or conflicts of interest in published articles to allow an assessment of commercial biases?


Adapted from the original C.R.A.A.P. Test, created by the Meriam Library at California State University, Chico. Additional criteria on methodology from the CRAA(M)P test, University of Texas Libraries: https://guides.lib.utexas.edu/c.php?g=961624&p=6944629

Additional Questions: P.R.O.V.E.N.

A few more questions to consider via P.R.O.V.E.N.

The process of evaluating a source includes examining the source itself and examining other sources by:

Checking for previous work. Has someone already fact-checked this source?

Finding the original source. Who originally published the information and why?

Reading laterally. What do other people say about this publication and author?

Circling back. How can you revise your original search to yield better results?

Checking your own emotions. Is your own bias affecting your evaluation?

The following questions within the P.R.O.V.E.N. tool will help you think critically during the source evaluation process:

Purpose: How and why the source was created.

  • Why does this information exist—to educate, inform, persuade, sell, entertain? Do the authors, publishers, or sponsors state this purpose, or try to disguise it?
  • Why was this information published in this particular type of source (book, article, website, blog, etc.)?
  • Who is the intended audience—the general public, students, experts?

Relevance: The value of the source for your needs.

  • Is the type of source appropriate for how you plan to use it and for your assignment’s requirements?
  • How useful is the information in this source, compared to other sources? Does it answer your question or support your argument? Does it add something new and important to your knowledge of the topic?
  • How detailed is the information? Is it too general or too specific? Is it too basic or too advanced?

Objectivity: The reasonableness and completeness of the information.

  • Do the authors present the information thoroughly and professionally? Do they use strong, emotional, manipulative, or offensive language?
  • Do the authors, publishers, or sponsors have a particular political, ideological, cultural, or religious point of view? Do they acknowledge this point of view, or try to disguise it?
  • Does the source present facts or opinions? Is it biased? Does it offer multiple points of view and critique other perspectives respectfully?
  • Does it omit or otherwise misrepresent important facts or other relevant perspectives?

Verifiability: The accuracy and truthfulness of the information.

  • Do the authors support their information with factual evidence? Do they cite or link to other sources? 
  • Can you verify the credibility of those sources? Can you find the original source of the information?
  • What do experts say about the topic? Can you verify the information in other credible sources?
  • Does the source contradict itself, include false statements, or misrepresent other sources?
  • Are there errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar?

Expertise: The authority of the authors and the source.

  • What makes the authors, publishers, or sponsors of the source authorities on the topic? Do they have related education or personal or professional experience?
  • Are they affiliated with an educational institution or respected organization?
  • Is their expertise acknowledged by other authorities on the topic?
  • Do they provide an important alternative perspective?
  • Do other sources cite this source?
  • Has the source been reviewed by an editor or through peer review?
  • Does the source provide contact information for the authors, publishers, and/or sponsors?

Newness: The age of the information.

  • Is your topic in an area that requires current information (such as science, technology, or current events), or could information found in older sources still be useful and valid? 
  • When was the information in the source first published or posted?
  • Are the references/links up to date?
  • Are newer sources available that would add important information to your understanding of the topic? How do you go about finding updated information in your field?

 

Based on Caulfield, Mike. “Four Moves and a Habit.” Web Literacy For Student Fact-Checkers, 2017. webliteracy.pressbooks.com

P.R.O.V.E.N. Source Evaluation by Ellen Carey is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.