C.R.A.P Evaluation

Maybe it was easy to find, but is it good? 

Assess: Does this information belong in my academic project or is it .... CRAP? 

Currency

•  How recent is the information?
•  If a website, how recently has it been updated?
•  Is it current enough for your topic? (Is this a  field with rapidly changing information?)

Reliability

• Is content of the resource primarily opinion? Is  it balanced?
•  Does the creator provide citations or sources?
•  Can you verify the info elsewhere?

Authority / Accuracy

• Can you find the credentials of the author or  creator of the information? (if a website - check the "about" page)
•  If a website, is a known, objective organization responsible for the information (example: .gov, .org, .edu domains)?
•  Are there obvious errors or typos?

Purpose / Point of View

Is the information fact or opinion?

•  Who is the intended audience?
•  Are there advertisements?
•  Is the creator/author trying to:
  • Sell you  something?
  • Inform you?
  • Entertain?
  • Persuade?  
•  What is the publisher’s interest (if any) in this  information? Can you determine if the publisher  has a political, religious, or other ideology to  promote? Look at the About Us page of the source AND look the source up in Wikipedia to learn more about from an outside perspective.