The C.R.A.P. Test* is a way to evaluate sources in four main categories:
Is the resource from an appropriate time?
• When was it originally published?
• Has it been updated or revised since then?
• Does the time frame fit your needs?
Can you depend on the information and trust it to be accurate?
• Did the author use any evidence, and show their sources with citations and references, or list of sources?
• Is the spelling and grammar correct?
• Can you verify the information through other sources?
Can you trust the source the information comes from?
• Who is the author, and what are their credentials?
• Who is the publisher or sponsor?
• What does the URL end with? (.gov, .org, .edu, .com?)
What is the author's motivation for publishing the resource?
• Is the author trying to inform, persuade, sell to, or entertain you?
• Are there advertisements or links to buy things? If so, are they marked clearly or sponsored by the resource?
• Does the author seem objective or biased? Do they name any affiliations or conflicts of interest?
* The C.R.A.P. Test was created by librarian Molly Beestrum at Dominican University and adapted by the LOEX wiki.
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