Use the CRAAP Test to help judge whether your sources are reliable.

Currency:

• When was the source published or updated?
• Do you need the most current information, or does the information not change with time?

Relevance:

• Is the information relevant to your topic?
• Does it fit your assignment requirements?
• Is the information of an appropriate level?
• Who is the intended audience?

*Authority:

• Who is the creator or author of the information?
• What are the credentials of the creator or author?
• Who is the sponsor or publisher of the information?

Accuracy:

• Is the information accurate? Can it be verified in other reliable sources?
• Are references and citations provided for quotes and statistics? Do these come from reliable sources?
• How was the source reviewed prior to publication?
• Are there spelling or grammatical errors?

*Purpose:

• Why was the information published? To inform? To sell a service or product? To entertain or amuse? To promote a point of view?
• Is there evidence of obvious bias?
• Is the information objective?
• Is the information factual or opinion-based?

*When considering a source's Authority and Purpose, it may be helpful do a quick internet search about the source. For example, don't just rely on who they say they are and what they say their purpose is - poll the crowd and see what other sources say. Are they legitimate? A person or organization may present themselves one way on their own website, but outside sources may say differently. This is especially helpful when trying to find potential conflicts of interest, or when researching controversial topics.