• When was the information published or posted? Has it been revised or updated?
• Is the information current or out-of-date for your topic?
• Are the links functional?
• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
• Have you looked at a few other sources before deciding this is one you will use?
• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• Are the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations given?
• Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
• Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net
• Is the information supported by evidence?
• Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
• Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
• Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?
• What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
• Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
-- Adapted from the handout “Evaluating Information -Applying the CRAAP Test” attributed to Meriam Library, California State University, Chico, August 24, 2004
This information was adapted from UC Berkeley Library’s “Finding Information on the Internet: Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask” Available from http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html
Sneaky Berkeley trick #2: Use alexa.com: Type or paste the URL into alexa.com's search box.
You will see, depending on the volume of traffic to the page:
CU Boulder affiliates: access facilities during open hours with your BuffOne Card.
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