The CRAAP Test Worksheet & How to Validate a Website

HOW TO VALIDATE A WEBSITE

1. Go to www.google.com
2. In the window type
a. link:www.insert-URL-here.com
b. It can be a .com, .org, etc.
3. Look at the sites that link back to your site
4. Are they government or university sites? Are they sites that have good credibility?
5. Click on one of the sites and see how your link is used. Do they use it as an example of a biased site or are they citing it as a credible site? If the latter, then your site is a good source.


HOW TO FIND OUT WHO OWNS A WEBSITE

1. Go to www.betterwhois.com; http://www.internic.net/whois.html
2. In the search box, type your url
3. Click on go.
4. You may be asked to enter a code. If so, enter it and click go.
5. Look at the information. Does the info give you an indication of what the owner does and if it relates to the site? If the contact information has an email, check to see if it matches the website’s email address. If not, do the following (for example):
a. If the email address is mike@stormfront.org, take the stormfront.org and put a www in front of it: www.stormfront.org
b. Put that URL into your browser and see what happens. Is this site consistent with what you should expect to find?
6. Look at the address. Is it a PO Box? If so and it's a hospital, that should concern you. Think about it. Does it make sense?


HOW TO CHECK THE CREDENTIALS OF AN AUTHOR

This information is for when you have a university site. For example, if you found this URL (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/africa/africasbook.html), you would do the following:
1. Remove all but the main URL. For example,http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/africa/africasbook.html now becomeshttp://www.fordham.edu
2. In the Fordham University search box, enter the author’s name, which in this case is Paul Halsall.
3. Look through the links to find out if he is a professor or a student. Does his department match his site? In other words, is a history professor talking about history or is this an engineering professor talking about history?

• Good Islam site or bad?
• Is this capital punishment site credible?
• Neoperspectives
• abortion editorial
• immigration site
• immigration reform site
• Animal rights

• Is this the real World Trade Organization?
Using the CRAAP Test, decide if this is the real WTO.
• Is this the real WTO?
Using the CRAAP Test, decide if this is the real WTO.
• Is this a credible history journal?
Using the CRAAP test, figure out if this journal is credible or not.
• Is this a credible history journal?
Using the CRAAP test, figure out if this journal is credible or not.


The CRAAP Test Worksheet

Use the following list to help you evaluate sources. Answer the questions as appropriate, and then rank each of the 5 parts from 1
to 10 (1 = unreliable, 10 = excellent). Add up the scores to give you an idea of whether you should you use the resource (and
whether your professor would want you to!).

Currency: the timeliness of the information…………………………………………...................................

When was the information published or posted?
Has the information been revised or updated?
Is the information current or out-of date for your topic?
Are the links functional?


Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs…………………………………………….

Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
Who is the intended audience?
Is the information at an appropriate level?
Have you looked at a variety of sources before choosing this one?
Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?
Authority: the source of the information…………………………………................................................
Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?


Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content…………….................................

Where does the information come from?
Is the information supported by evidence?
Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
Can you verify any of the information in another source?
Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?
Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?


Purpose: the reason the information exists……………………………………………………………

What is the purpose of the information?
Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

Total:
45 - 50 Excellent | 40 - 44 Good
35 - 39 Average | 30 - 34 Borderline Acceptable
Below 30 - Unacceptable