How do I evaluate website credibility?

The Web contains a lot of information that is not verified or checked, so it is important to be very careful when choosing quality Web sources. Anyone can make a web site about any topic, regardless of how much they know or are qualified in that subject area.

When checking Web sources for research, keep in mind that you're looking for information that is

• reliable
• credible
• well researched
• truthful
• authoritative

One way to filter out Web garbage is to use the CRAAP method. Use this tool to evaluate your Web sources, but keep in mind this is just a tool, and you can choose to use an iffy resource for a specific reason. Be prepared to explain that reason.

For example, if you are putting together a paper or a speech about how misinformation spreads online, you may choose to use a blog that spreads misinformation as an example of what you're talking about.

The section below will discuss the CRAAP method.

The CRAAP method is a tool that uses 5 standards to analyze research sources. These standards are:

Currency
Check the source's publication date, never the copyright date. Is the information sitll current? When was the last update? How relevant is currency to the field you're writing in?

If the source has no publication date, you cannot show currency. Discard the source.

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

Authority
Check authors' credentials. Do they have expertise? Check their background and find information about them that will show you whether they know what they're talking about. 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 a fact from Wikipedia against the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Purpose
What is the source's purpose? Is it to educate, inform, entertain, promote, persuade? Is the source neutral (that is, it presents and analyzes more than one view), or is it biased? Keep in mind that authors can and do write about their point of view or opinions, and those may not not neutral.  When we talk about bias, we mean prejudice. For example, "All students are lazy" is a biased statement. "Sometimes, for many reasons, students may be lazy" is not a biased statement.

For each of the choices below, apply the CRAAP method to decide which is the more reliable site. Explain your choice.

• Site 1 OR Site 2
• Site 1 OR Site 2
• Site 1 OR Site  2

CRAAP Method Handout | Website Cred Checklist

• For help finding resources, use the information in the library's playbooks. Librarians can help you understand the playbooks, but they cannot conduct research for you.
• For help with formatting citations, please consult the library's citation styles playbooks. Please note the librarians cannot help you with citation generators or with any citation guide other than the library's. 
• For help with composition issues (such as spelling, grammar, flow, etc.), please visit the Writing Center.
• If you have questions, please email the  librarians at reference@pvcc.edu, visit the library and speak with a librarian, or connect via chat. If your section has an embedded librarian, contact that specific librarian.