How do I evaluate sources?

The CRAAP Method is a tool to evaluate sources by applying 5 standards: currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.

Currency

Check the source's publication date. Is the information still current? When was the last update? How relevant is currency to the field?

Relevance

Is your source directly relevant to your research? Does it answer your research question, and does it fit with the assignment parameters? Scholarly or popular? Check terminology, reading level, and style.

Authority

Check author credentials. Do they have expertise? Credibility? Check their background. You wouldn't let a plumber do your root canal, would you?

Accuracy

Is the source accurate? Verify facts and claims against authoritative, independent sources. For example, check the Encyclopedia Britannica to verify a fact in a Wikipedia article.

Purpose

What is the source's purpose? Is it to educate, inform, entertain, promote, persuade? Is the source neutral or biased? Bias is not necessarily a bad thing, but it has to be taken into account.

For help, contact reference@pvcc.edu