The critical evaluation of information is a basic skill you need to develop to conduct quality research. Critical evaluation combines common sense, knowledge, skepticism, and verification. Remember, not all of the information you find will be suitable, and using inaccurate or inappropriate information will weaken your research results.
With so much information available, in so many formats, and from so many sources, it is essential that you carefully review and evaluate each piece of information you select to ensure its quality, authority, perspective, and balance. As you can imagine, this process can be overwhelming. So, what exactly should you look for?
One very helpful strategy is the CRAAP Test. CRAAP is the abbreviation for:
- Currency
- Relevance
- Authority
- Accuracy
- Purpose
View the video below for an explanation of how you can apply the CRAAP Test to evaluate information sources.