Exploring Authority

Determining authority of an information source

Welcome to this "guide on the side" for Determining Authority

At the end of this exercise you will be able to:

• Explain the elements of a tool that is used for determining authority, the CRAAP Test.
• Evaluate and determine the relevance and authority of a source using the CRAAP Test.

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The information in this left column guides you through this interactive assignment.

• Read the information.
• Follow the instructions.
• Click the arrow (->) at the bottom to go to the next page.

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The right column is running an internet browser.

• When you go to the next page in the left column, the right window does not change.

How do I determine authority?

Why do we need to worry about authority?

We live in an information age.  Mark Andrejevic's book, Infoglut: How Too Much Information is Changing the Way We Think and Know, reports that more mediated information is available to more people than at any other time in human history.  

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This highlights the importance of knowing how to evaluate information sources to determine whether sources are authoritative and appropriate for your information need.

------ Andrejevic, M. (2013). Infoglut: How Too Much Information Is Changing the Way We Think and Know. New York: Routledge.

A tool: The CRAAP Test

The CRAAP Test

One tool that many people use to help determine authority is the CRAAP test.

The CRAAP test is a series of questions you ask yourself about a resource to help you determine authority and relevance.

A tool: The CRAAP Test

The browser window at the right displays an online article from The Guardian. 

• As you are guided through this evaluation you will be asked to answer a few short-answer questions.
• At the end you will be asked to conclude whether you think this source is authoritative and relevant for your information need or not.

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Be sure to explain your answers.  Answers to short-answer questions will be automatically sent in the email with your quiz answers/results and will be part of the final grade.

A tool: The CRAAP Test

Your Information Need

Today at lunch you have had a conversation with your roommate.  He/she talked about the great campus-sponsored trip to Thailand this coming summer which will also give you course credit.  He/she is going.

You too would like to go on this campus sponsored trip. However, you know you will need to convince your parents that this is worthwhile and beneficial to your educational experience.

A tool: The CRAAP Test

You have done some research and found an article in The Guardian

Why students need a global awareness and understanding of other cultures (displayed in the browser window). 

Would this be a good article to show your parents?

Using the CRAAP Test

The CRAAP Test

The CRAAP Test has 5 sections of questions to answer when evaluating a source. The acronym stands for:

• Currency
• Relevance
• Authority
• Accuracy
• Purpose

Let's apply the CRAAP test to this web site.

CRAAP - Currency

Currency: The timeliness of the information.

• When was the information published, posted or updated?
• If not current, does your topic require current information?

Is the information current?

CRAAP - Relevance

Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?

Is the information relevant?

CRAAP - Authority

Authority: The source of the information.

• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• Can you identify the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations?
• Is the author qualified to write on the topic?

Is the information authoritative?

CRAAP - Accuracy

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

• Is the information supported by evidence or cited reference? Can you verify the information?
• Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
• Are there spelling, typographical or grammar errors?

Is the information accurate?

CRAAP - Purpose

Purpose: The reason the information exists.

• What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
• Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
• Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial or is it biased?

What is the purpose of this web site/artic.e?

Review

Reflection:

Would this be a good article to give your parents to help convince them that you should go on the summer trip to Thailand?

Review

Review:

Whether you have a personal or academic need, use the CRAAP Test questions to determine currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose. 

Use the answers to the questions to determine whether a source is authoritative and relevant to your need.

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Take the following quiz to review what you have learned.  Remember to email the results to your professor.

Certificate

Please enter your name and email address to retrieve a copy of your completed quiz.

You can enter multiple email addresses separated by commas. If you are doing this for a class, you may need to enter your instructor's email address also.

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