Check3
Check the Source (Look at what you’ve found)
- Is the information out of date for my topic? Do I need more current information? For topics in rapidly changing fields like science, technology, medicine, politics, current events, etc. keep in mind that information can quickly become outdated.
- Who is the author? What makes them an authority on this topic? The author could be an individual, a group of people, or an organization.
- Are there links or citations to other sources? If a website, do they link to other areas on their site, or to external sources?
- Did the source undergo any kind of review process before publication?
- Is evidence based on anecdotes (personal stories) or research (data)?
- What is the tone of the source? Formal or informal writing style, attempts to be impartial or statements of opinion, uncluttered formatting or an abundance of advertisements, etc.
Check Outside the Source (Time to open a new tab!)
- Can I verify claims made in this source with another source?
- Can I identify any potential biases in the author or publisher? Try a quick web search to see what other sources say about them. Wikipedia is helpful for this.
- If the source contains original research, do the authors say who funded the study? Does the source of funding have a conflict of interest? For example, a company that produces beef products funding a study on the benefits of eating red meat would have a clear conflict of interest.
Check Within Yourself (Evaluate your own biases)
- Am I surrounded only by sources with the same views as myself? Have I tried searching for other perspectives with opposite or neutral search terms?
Have I brought my own biases into source evaluation? Do I favor this source because it affirms my beliefs?
Adapted from the CRAAP Test (Blakeslee, S.) and 4 Step Strategy (Liu, G., Pajewski, A., and McMullin, R.M.)