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Tips and Tricks
What does a domain name tell you?
- .com: These domains can be purchased by anyone, and any information can be put on it (whether it’s correct or not).
- .ca, .uk, .au: This is a country code, and acts similarly to .com. Further evaluation should be done to see if the source is credible.
- .edu: This domain is reserved for educational institutions (colleges and universities). It can be assumed that the information on these websites is accurate.
- .gov: This domain is reserved for government resources, and can be assumed that the information is credible.
- .org: This domain is reserved for non-profit organizations. There could still be a bias, but is generally reliable.
Who wrote the page?
- If there is an author/editor listed, try googling them to find out who they are.
- Do they have credentials that allow them to be writing on the subject?
- If an author/editor/organization cannot be identified, do not use the source.
The CRAAP Test
The C.R.A.A.P. test
Currency: the timeliness of the information
- When was the information posted?
- Has the information been updated/revised?
- Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work?
- Are the links functional?
Relevance: The importance of the information
- Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is the information at an appropriate level (not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
- Have you looked at a variety of sources?
Authority: The source of the information
- Who is the author/publisher/sponsor?
- What are the author’s credentials?
- Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
- Is there contact information?
- Does the URL reveal anything about the source?
Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content
- Where does the information come from?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Have the information been reviewed?
- Can you verify the information in another source?
- Does that language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
- Are there spelling/grammatical errors?
Purpose: The reason the information exists
- What is the purpose of the information (to teach, inform, sell, entertain, persuade)?
- Do the authors make their intentions clear?
- Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
Using Wikipedia
- Ask your instructor if you can use Wikipedia as a source in an assignment and make sure to cite it if you do. (See our section on citations).
- Even Wikipedia’s own section on academic research states it’s place to get started and get a general understanding of your topic. Topics will need more details and that’s where books, ebooks, and peer review articles at the library can help.
- The bottom of the Wikipedia entry contains the sources used to write the article. It gives a good idea about the quality of information in the article itself and ideas for other sources to search at the library.
- The Wikipedia Library has a section on Finding Your Source put together by colleges, universities, and libraries to make sure it helps your research and helps determine quality, and authoritative, sources.
