SOCW 3201: Social Work Practice: Evaluating Information

The CRAAP Test provides a good guide for analyzing your research sources. Here is a link to an accessible PDF of this information.

By scoring each category on a scale from 1 to 10 (1=worst, 10=best possible), you can give each site a grade on a 50 point scale.

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

This information has been adapted from "Evaluating Information-Applying the CRAAP Test" by the staff at Meriam Library, California State University-Chico. The source material can be accessed here.
"Evaluating Information-Applying the CRAAP Test." 26 Sept. 2009. Meriam Lib., California State University-Chico. CSU-Chico ReSEARCH Station. Web. 11 Jan. 2010.

Popular Webpage Domain Extensions:

• .com originally identified for-profit company websites
• These pages can be sponsored by individuals or non-profit organizations
• .com sites are often sources of reliable information, but not necessarily. Evaluate .com websites carefully

• Most official .edu pages would be considered reliable sources 
• A tilde (~) in the URL usually indicates a student or faculty member's personal webpage.  Personal sites can vary in quality.

• Includes U.S. state, federal, and military information
• Domain names reflect the organization names in the Federal Government & non- Federal government entities in the United States; Used to promote government services. Usually treated as acceptable sources for academic papers

• Are not necessarily a non-profit organization
• Often contain excellent information, but many are created in support of a specific position or agenda. Analyze their contents carefully.