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Writing and Research: Credibility of Sources

This Guide will provide you with some resources that will help you in your research and your writing

How do I determine credibility?

When searching for resources, the researcher needs to determine the credibility and reliability of the source(s). This page explores two different strategies with which to do that. One thing you will notice is that credibility can be contextual, meaning it can depend on the purpose of your research or the context of its use. Whatever the case, it is generally determined by whether or not experts on your subject would agree on a source's validity. Remember, using sources that are not credible reflects on your own credibility and that of your work, so finding a strategy to determine credibility that works for you and your purpose is important.

The CRAAP Test

You may have encountered the CRAAP test before. It is useful in evaluating the credibility of resources. It is an acronym that stands for the following.

  • Currency: How current is the source? Do I need current information for my work? Are there newer or revised versions of this resource?
  • Relevance: Does this information serve my needs? How in depth or broad is the information? Could I find this information elsewhere is a better or more reliable source?
  • Authority: What do I know about the author or organization publishing this information? Do I consider them reliable? What are their credentials or are they an expert in their field? What does the domain tell me about the source? (i.e., .org, .com, .edu. .gov)
  • Accuracy: Is the information cited? Could I fact check or verify this information? It is peer reviewed? 
  • Purpose: Why was this resource created or why does the information contained here exist? Who is the audience? Is it unbiased? Is it meant to persuade, teach, inform, entertain, sell etc.?

The CRAAP test was originally created by Meriam Library at California State University, Chico. CRAAP information sourced from Springfield Technical Community College Library and UCL Institute of Education Library guides.

The following video expands on the CRAAP test.

Research 101: Credibility is Contextual

University of Manitoba Libraries: Determining Good Sources

The 5 W Questions

Here are five questions to help you think critically about your source and assess its credibility. This strategy is often used to evaluate the credibility of web pages, but is useful for other sources also.

  1. Who is the author? Are they an expert in this field? What are their qualifications? Is it an organizational or an individual? If it is a person, what organization are they connected to? Can they be contacted for further information/clarification?
  2. What is the purpose of the resource? Who was it written for? Are there citations? Can it be fact checked? Are there spelling or grammatical errors? Is it well researched? Is it peer reviewed?
  3. When was the resource published and/or written? Is it current? Do you need current information? If a website, when was it last updated?
  4. Where is the content/information from? Is the publisher or organization reputable? What is the website domain? (i.e., .com, .gov, .org, .edu) Is it published in an academic journal, news source, magazine? 
  5. Why was it written? or Why is it reliable? Is it for a specific audience? Is it biased or balanced? Does it primarily include opinions or facts? Is it promoting a specific agenda or organization? Does it include advertising?

You may need to do research to uncover the answers to some of these questions, but considering these questions and the answers is an important step in determining credibility of a source.

5 W information sourced from Springfield Technical Community College Library, University of Washington Libraries, and UCL Institute of Education Library guides.

Ask a Librarian

Both of these strategies ask similar questions and operate with similar principles. You can determine which works best for your purposes. If you are still uncertain about the credibility of a source, ask a librarian. Drop by the library or send us a note and we'll help you investigate.

Misinformation & Information Literacy Guide

For more guidance and information on how to navigate sources and determine credibility and accuracy of information, visit our Misinformation & Information Literacy guide. It defines common terms, explores information behaviour, and provides some useful strategies and resources.