FAQ

Good is a relative term ... what is sufficient, acceptable, relevant, or worthy changes with each information need.  However, there are some general evaluation criteria that you can apply to a source to see whether it meets your information needs.  

These criteria form a checklist known as the CRAAP test: 

Currency 

• Do I need current or historical information?  Is this the most updated source I can find? Or is this source from the proper time frame to serve as a historical resource? 
• Has this information been revised or changed since it was published?
• Bottom line: Does this offer appropriately current or historical information?

Relevance 

• Does this information help me accomplish the purpose of my paper/work?
• Does this easily relate to my topic?
• Does this information strengthen my argument or statements?
• Bottom line: Is this a source that adds value to my work? Is it worth including?

Authority 

• Who is the author? What expertise do they have -- knowledge, education, experience?  
• Who is the publisher? Why have they made this information available?
• Does the author or published have any motivation or bias for their work?
• Bottom line:  Can you trust this author to know what they're talking about?  Is this person the best source that you can find on this topic?

Accuracy 

• Is this information correct? Reliable?
• Can this information be verified in other sources?
• What methods did they use to collect this information/data? How did they draw their conclusions?
• Do they list their sources? Are these sources academic/scholarly/credible?
• Bottom line: Can you trust that this information is true?

Purpose

• Why was this written? Why does this information exist? Why was it made public? 
• What was the writer's purpose? The publisher's purpose?
• Are there any hints of bias? Is the author up front about this bias?
• Is this information trying to persuade or influence you?
• Bottom line:  Understanding the purpose of the source can ensure that you do not fall prey to biased or one-sided information.