<h2>What is CRAAP?</h2>
<p>The CRAAP Test is an evaluation method that helps evaluate your sources. By applying this method, you can decide whether a source should be used or not. It was designed by the Meriam Library of California State University, Chico.</p>
<p>CRAAP is an acronym that stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose. CRAAP states a set of questions in these 5 categories. By answering these questions, you can evaluate the information in the articles you read.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Currency</strong>: The timeliness of the information.</li>
<li><strong>Relevance</strong>: The importance of the information for your needs.</li>
<li><strong>Authority</strong>: The source of the information.</li>
<li><strong>Accuracy</strong>: The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content.</li>
<li><strong>Purpose</strong>: The reason the information exists.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Evaluation</h4>
<p>To evaluate a source, you have to answer some questions for the 5 categories. The questions can be found in the Category Details section. Answer the questions, and score each category on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 = unreliable, 10 = excellent). Then sum up the scores and determine the quality based on the following scoring:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>45-50</strong>: Excellent</li>
<li><strong>40-44</strong>: Good</li>
<li><strong>35-39</strong>: Average</li>
<li><strong>30-34</strong>: Borderline Acceptable</li>
<li><strong>Below 30</strong>: Unacceptable</li>
</ul>
<h2>How do we use CRAAP?</h2>
<p>At Sourcer, we use the CRAAP test to determine the completeness and the quality of an article. We automatically calculate the results for you, so you can easily verify your sources. But how are we doing this?</p>
<p>Currently, we use 3 out of the 5 categories of CRAAP - Currency, Authority, and Accuracy. Relevance and Purpose will be added soon. Similarly to the manual method, based on the information we extract from the article you are reading, we "answer a set of questions". Since we use a modified of CRAAP, the scoring also changes, with a maximum score of 30:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>25-30</strong>: Excellent</li>
<li><strong>20-24</strong>: Good</li>
<li><strong>15-19</strong>: Average</li>
<li><strong>10-14</strong>: Borderline Acceptable</li>
<li><strong>Below 10</strong>: Unacceptable</li>
</ul>
<h3>Currency</h3>
<p>First, we check whether an article should be current or not. If articles within the same topic appear recently, we assume that an article must be current. If so, the more recent an article, the better it will score.</p>
<p>If an article contains the publish date, it will receive a higher score than one without it.</p>
<p>Lastly, we check whether the sources and links in the article are functional. If so, the article will score higher.</p>
<h3>Authority</h3>
<p>When evaluating the authority of the article, we take a deeper look at the authors. Articles, where both the publisher and author are available will score higher.</p>
<p>Then, we check the available information about the author(s). Furthermore, we take a look into whether the authors are related to the topic they are writing about. If the information is available and the authors are relevant, the article will score higher.</p>
<p>Lastly, we check the URL of the article. Articles with knowingly shady/spammy URLs will score lower.</p>
<h3>Accuracy</h3>
<p>For the accuracy of the artcile, we investigate the sourcer used by the authors. Articles without any evidence will not score well in this category. If an article uses enough of both internal (from the same website) and external (from other sourcer) sources, they will score higher. Lastly, if the article uses not too many sources that are not articles, they can earn higher scores.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>As discussed above, we use Currency, Authority, and Accuracy from the CRAAP evaluation to show you the completeness and quality of any articles. You can use this score and the details to determine the credibility of an article easier.</p>
<h2>Category details</h2>
<h4>Currency</h4>
<p>The timeliness of the information.</p>
<ul>
<li>When was the information created, published or posted?</li>
<li>Has the information been revised or updated? If so, when?</li>
<li>Is the information current or out-of-date for your topic?</li>
<li>Are the links functional?</li>
</ul>
<h4>Relevance</h4>
<p>The importance of the information for your needs.</p>
<ul>
<li>Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?</li>
<li>Who is the intended audience?</li>
<li>Is the information at an appropriate level (e.g. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?</li>
<li>Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?</li>
<li>Does it seem credible?</li>
<li>Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?</li>
</ul>
<h4>Authority</h4>
<p>The source of the information.</p>
<ul>
<li>Who is the creator and/or author and/or publisher and/or source and/or sponsor?</li>
<li>Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?</li>
<li>What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?</li>
<li>Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?</li>
<li>Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?</li>
</ul>
<h4>Accuracy</h4>
<p>The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content.</p>
<ul>
<li>Does it have references?</li>
<li>Is the information supported by evidence?</li>
<li>Has the information been reviewed or refereed?</li>
<li>Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?</li>
<li>Does the language or tone seem objective and free of emotion?</li>
<li>Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?</li>
</ul>
<h4>Purpose</h4>
<p>The reason the information exists.</p>
<ul>
<li>What is the purpose of the information (e.g. to inform, teach, sell, entertain, persuade etc.)?</li>
<li>Do the authors and/or sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?</li>
<li>Is the information fact, opinion and/or propaganda?</li>
<li>Is it objective or biased?</li>
<li>Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?</li>
</ul>
<h2>Sources</h2>
<p><a href="https://library.csuchico.edu/sites/default/files/craap-test.pdf">CRAAP Test - California State University, Chico</a></p>
<p><a href="https://libguides.ppcc.edu/c.php?g=16624&#x26;p=3509587">CRAAP Score Card - Pikes Peek Community College Library</a></p>
<p><a href="https://guides.beloit.edu/c.php?g=963114&#x26;p=6961321">CRAAP Test - Beloit College</a></p>
<p><a href="https://researchguides.ben.edu/source-evaluation">Evaluating Sources: The CRAAP Test - Benedictine University Library</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.spamhaus.org/statistics/tlds/">Spammy URLs 1</a>, <a href="http://www.surbl.org/tld">Spammy URLs 2</a>, <a href="https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/feature-stories/top-20-shady-top-level-domains">Shady URLs</a></p>
<h2>Disclaimer</h2>
<p>Sourcer assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this article. The information contained in this article is provided on an "as is" basis with no complete guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.</p>


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