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Manor College Library

First-Year Skills: CRAAP

CRAAP* Test

The Craap test. How to think critically about the stuff you find when doing research. Patron says: 'Hey Librarian, how do I know if the stuff I find for my research is any good?' Librarian says: 'Well young fellow, you could use the Craap test. CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose. Currency: Is it recent? Has it been updated? Newer information is generally better. Relevance: Does it relate to your work? Or were you just getting a bit desperate to find something? Think about who the intended audience was for the source. And what level it is written at. Authority: Does the source have cred? Is it Kosher? Who wrote it? Who published it? Was it sponsored by some evil multinational? Accuracy: Is it true? Does it include evidence or statistics? Did anyone check it? (sometimes this is known as peer-review) Purpose: Why does this information exist? To sell? To teach? To entertain? If you apply the CRAAP test when doing your research, young student, you will be awarded a gold star for your work!' Patron says: 'Thank you Librarian. You really are incredibly erudite. And strangely charismatic.'

 

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