An easy way to evaluate each website you visit is to use the CRAAP test.
Currency: the timeliness of the information
- Does the site include the dates it was created and updated?
- How current are the links? Have any expired or moved?
- Consider if currency is especially important for the research topic.
Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs
- Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
- Who is the intended audience?
- 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?
- Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?
Authority: the source of the information
- Is there an author? What are his or her qualifications?
- What is the sponsoring organization? Is it reputable?
- Is the domain appropriate for the search (.edu, .com, .gov, .org, .net, etc.)?
- Look for links providing information about the author and his or her e-mail address.
- Check for "about us," "philosophy," etc. for information about the organization.
Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content.
- Is the information reliable and correct?
- Is there an editor who verifies the information?
- Remember, anyone can publish anything on the web, and there are no web standards for accuracy.
Purpose: the reason the information exists
- Does the website show a minimum of bias?
- Is there advertising on the page?
- Is the site objective or designed with a specific purpose in mind? Is the purpose of the site to sell, to inform, to persuade?
When reviewing websites, also think about coverage. Consider:
- Does the site contribute something unique to the Subject?
- How does the site compare with other sites on this topic?
- Is material covered in depth rather than superficially?
- Is there a balance of text and images?
- Is the site readily viewable, not needing special software or requiring a fee?
