Evaluate the information you've found to select what you will use for your research assignment
Video Tutorials:
The CRAAP Test is a series of questions to ask about any source of information. The questions will help you decide whether your source is credible and appropriate for use in your research.
C |
Currency: The timeliness of the information
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R |
Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs
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A |
Authority: The source of the information
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A |
Accuracy: The reliability and correctness of the informational content
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P |
Purpose: The reason the information exists
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Adapted from: The University of the Fraser Valley (2009). Evaluating information: The CRAAP test. Retrieved from http://www.ufv.ca/library/tutorials/craaptest.htm
Look at each of the sites below.
(Note: Each site will open in a new page)
A. Martin Luther King, Jr.
B. Hospitals
Scholarly vs. Popular
When conducting research it is important to distinguish between journal articles and magazine articles. Journal articles are typically referred to as "scholarly," while magazine articles are usually considered "popular". A third category, "trade" magazines or journals, are written for professionals in a particular field but are not strictly research related. Below are additional criteria to consider when differentiating between journals and magazines.
Criteria | Scholarly Journal | Popular Magazine | Newsletter / Trade Journal |
---|---|---|---|
Example | ![]() |
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Content (accuracy) |
In-depth, primary account of original findings written by the researcher(s); very specific information, with the goal of scholarly communication. | Secondary discussion of someone else's research; may include personal narrative or opinion; general information, purpose is to entertain or inform | Current news, trends and products in a specific industry; practical information for professionals working in the field or industry. |
Author (authority) |
Author's credentials are provided; usually a scholar or specialist with subject expertise. | Author is frequently a journalist paid to write articles, may or may not have subject expertise. | Author is usually a professional in the field, sometimes a journalist with subject expertise. |
Audience (coverage) |
Scholars, researchers, and students. | General public; the interested non-specialist. | Professionals in the field; the interested non-specialist. |
Language (coverage) |
Specialized terminology or jargon of the field; requires expertise in subject area. | Vocabulary in general usage; easily understandable to most readers. | Specialized terminology or jargon of the field, but not as technical as a scholarly journal. |
Graphics (coverage) |
Graphs, charts, and tables; very few advertisements and photographs. | Graphs, charts and tables; lots of glossy advertisements and photographs. | Photographs; some graphics and charts; advertisements targeted to professionals in the field. |
Layout & Organization (currency) |
Structured; includes the article abstract, goals and objectives, methodology, results (evidence), discussion, conclusion, and bibliography. | Informal; may include non-standard formatting. May not present supporting evidence or a conclusion. | Informal; articles organized like a journal or a newsletter. Evidence drawn frompersonal experience or common knowledge. |
Accountability (objectivity) |
Articles are evaluated by peer-reviewers or referees who are experts in the field; edited for content, format, and style. While the peer-review process is far from perfect, it often is an indicator at least some measure of objectivity. | Articles are evaluated by editorial staff, not experts in the field; edited for format and style. | Articles are evaluated by editorial staff who may be experts in the field, not peer-reviewed; edited for format and style. |
References (objectivity) |
Required. Quotes and facts are verifiable. | Rare. Little, if any, information about source materials is given | Occasional brief bibliographies, but not required. |
Paging | Page numbers are consecutive throughout the volume. | Each issue begins with page 1. | Each issue begins with page 1. |
Other titles | Annals of Mathematics, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, History of Education Quarterly, almost anything with Journal in the title. | Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, Time, Newsweek, This Old House, Cooking Light, Discover | Architectural Record, PC World, Restaurant Business, American Libraries, Psychology Today, School Band and Orchestra |
Acknowledgement: This is adapted from one created by North Carolina State University Libraries. They, in turn, modified a document originally created by librarians at the University of Michigan Shapiro Undergraduate Library.
Distinguishing Scholarly and Popular Articles https://www.library.unlv.edu/inst/docs/distinguishing.pdf
Peer review is a process in which an article is screened and evaluated by a panel of experts before it is published. Reviewers will evaluate the article for quality, credibility, and accuracy.
If you need to find peer-reviewed articles, use the search options/limiters available in the database.
Peer-reviewed journals may contain information that is not peer-reviewed, such as editorials, opinions, or letters. Remember to evaluate specific articles. Check with your instructor to make sure you have the appropriate sources required for your assignment.
Usually a journal is peer-reviewed when:
If you have found your article online in an article database, you can check to see if the database has information about the journal to determine if it is peer-reviewed.
Alternatively, you can do an Internet search for your journal's name to see if the publisher's site has any useful information.
When in doubt, ask us at the library!
The peer review process can follow several different methods:
You can usually find out what kind of peer review is used by checking the journal's website.
Reading and critiquing scholarly research articles is a skill developed with time and practice.
As you read more within your discipline you'll likely discover patterns in the structure of the journal articles. You'll also get more experienced at differentiating between good and bad articles.
Journal articles, particularly research articles in the sciences and social sciences, tend to follow a very similar structure. You may see some or all of the following headings:
Don't feel that you have to read research articles from beginning to end. The best strategy may be to read the abstract and then skip to the conclusions section, in order to get a feel for the main points of the article.
While journal articles in the humanities don't usually follow the structure noted above, you will at a minimum still see an Introduction and a References or Works Cited list.
The following questions may be helpful in determining whether you are reading a good scholarly article: