Q. When we search the Web, how do we evaluate a website to test for valid, credible information?

For in-depth coverage on the use of websites for college-level research, please refer the MCC Library tutorial: Info 5: Websites

A quick way to evaluate a website is to apply the CRAAP* test! By answering the test's 5 questions about a website, you can determine whether it is credible or not. Ask yourself the following questions:

Currency: How current is the website? When was the information published or posted? Has it been updated recently? Are there any broken links or are they being regularly maintained?

Relevance: Is the website relevant to your topic, or does it answer your question? Is it presented at an appropriate level for your paper - not too elementary, not too advanced? Did you check other sources before deciding to use this one?

Authority: Who published or sponsored the website? What are the author's affiliations and credentials? Is there contact information (a publisher's name or email address)?

Accuracy: How truthful, reliable and correct is the information? Is it supported by evidence? Are there links to other high-quality information sources? Are there errors in spelling or grammar?

Purpose: Why do you think this website was created? To inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade you? Can you discover the author's intentions? Does the author have a point of view which seems objective and impartial or is there a bias - either political, religious, cultural, ideological or personal?

* Thanks to the librarians of Cal. State University, Chico, for developing the CRAAP website test!