Library Guides: Speech Pathology Research Skills guide: Evaluating information

Evaluate information (The CRAP Test)

Use this test - the CRAP Test - to make a decision about the value of the information you have found ...

Currency	Is it current enough for your topic? A general rule is to use resources published in the last 5 years.
Reliability	Is the source reputable? Is it peer reviewed? Does the creator provide references? Do those references pass the CRAP test?
Authority	Who is the creator or author? What are their qualifications? Are they an expert in the field?
Purpose	Is it fact or opinion? Is it biased or balanced? Is the creator trying to sell you something?

The website domain gives you an idea of the reliability of a website:

.edu (educational institution)

.gov (government)

These are more likely to be reliable and unbiased.

.org (non-profit organisation)

.asn (non-commercial organisation)

Sometimes these organisations may show a bias toward one side of a topic.

.com (commercial site)

.net (network)

Critically evaluate these sites as they may be unreliable.