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ANTH 331: Biological Anthropology

Course research guide for ANTH 331

Evaluating and selecting your sources: Are your sources CRAAP?

Read through your articles and look for differences in their titles, structure, length, authors, language, and appearance to help you identify the differences between your popular source and your peer-reviewed journal articles.

The C.R.A.A.P. criteria below are also useful for evaluating and selecting sources for your university assignments:

Currency: The timeliness of the information 

  • When was the information published or posted?
  • Has it been updated?
  • Do you need the most current, up-to-date information on your topic?

RelevanceThe information meets your assignment needs 

  • Does the source meet your assignment requirements?
  • Does the information directly relate to your topic?
  • Does it help you answer questions?
  • Have you looked at other sources to find the best one?

Authority: The source of the information 

  • Who is the author or publisher?
  • Are they qualified to write about this area?
  • If it's a website, what does the URL say about the source, i.e. .com .edu .gov .org?

Accuracy: The reliability and correctness of the information 

  • Is the information supported by citations or other evidence?
  • Can you verify the information with another source?
  • Is the author or publisher biased or unbiased? 

Purpose: The reason the information exists

  • What is the purpose of the information? To inform, sell, persuade, or entertain?
  • Is the information given a fact or an opinion?
  • Is the author or publisher biased or unbiased?
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