Use the CRAAP test when conducting general source evaluation on materials such as books and scholarly articles.

C Currency

• When was the information published or posted?
• Has the information been revised or updated?
• Is the information up-to-date or have there been any major changes affecting the topic since the content was published?
•  Check for a copyright date at the bottom of websites. Are there broken links? This may indicate a site that is no longer maintained.

R Relevance

• Does the publication answer your questions or provide information relevant to your topic?
• Who is the intended audience — general readers, experts, or professionals in a particular field?
• Is the information at an appropriate level?
• Have you looked at multiple sources?

A Authority

• What is the author’s background? What else have they written? Do they have advanced degrees in the field or are they considered an authority on the topic? Are they sponsored or employed by an institution?
• Scholarship can exist outside academic circles and it is worth considering works by authors who may bring a different perspective.
• Is the author an organization or a corporation? Be wary of content with no author credits.

A Accuracy

• Where does the information come from?
• Is it supported by evidence?
• Does the author provide a reference list or links to original research or primary source documents?
• Do they name their sources?
• Can you verify the information using other sources?

P Purpose

• Why was this information published or posted?
• Is the purpose of the publication educational, commercial or political?
• Look out for sensationalist or alarmist titles or claims.
• Does the author present multiple sides of an issue in a neutral tone, or is there a particular viewpoint?
• If published by an organization, is it non-profit or for-profit? Are they selling something? Do they have a particular agenda such as a think-tank or Political Action Committee (PAC)?

The CRAAP test [PDF] is attributed to Sarah Blakeslee of the University of California at Chico and published under a  Creative Commons 4.0 International License.

The ACT UP method pushes against the privilege inherent in traditional academic scholarship. It encourages you to think about the environments surrounding the production of information resources, and to consider elements of systemic oppression which have historically influenced which materials are considered appropriate for academic work.

A Author

• Who wrote this?
• What are their credentials? Background information matters.

C Currency

• When was this written or published?
• Are you seeking a historical perspective or up-to-date information?

T Truth

• Is the information accurate?
• Can you verify the information elsewhere?

U Unbiased

• No source is truly unbiased; we all have biases.
• Is the information presented to sway the audience?
• Who funded the research or benefits from the outcome?
• Look for sources which are impartial or which are explicit about their mission, viewpoint or agenda.
• Are you selecting sources which confirm your own biases, or seeking a broad range of perspectives on an issue?

P Privilege

• Check the privilege of the author(s).
• Who might be missing in this conversation?

The ACTUP test attributed to Dawn Stahura and published under a Creative Commons 4.0 International License.

Use the SIFT method and lateral reading when evaluating online content and news sources.

S Stop

Before you begin reading, stop and ask yourself a few questions:

• What do I already know on this topic?
• What do I know about the source that this information is coming from?
• Are you feeling overwhelmed by the information? Stop and remind yourself what your goals are.

I Investigate the Source

• Take a moment and look into the source you are reading; this may mean a quick google search of the source, or even checking a Wikipedia article on the source.
• Check what outside sources say about your source, rather than the source itself.

F Find Better Coverage

• Look around and see what other coverage is available on the same subject; you may find sources that contradict or confirm your original source’s claims.
• You are not tied to using your original source – you can (and should!) go beyond that source.

T Trace Claims

• Trace the claims, quotes and media in your source.
• If your source quotes a subject expert or references a study, try to track down the original source. Look for embedded links or references at the end, which are great starting points to trace the information.

SIFT method attributed to Mike Caulfield and published under a Creative Commons 4.0 International License.