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Physical Education

Critically Evaluate Sources

For college-level research, you'll want to consider what kind of source you need for your assignment. Between the internet and SU’s library, the “best” information can depend on the assignment. Here are some ways to determine the best information sources to lend support to your own research. 

Type of Sources

Examples: Popular: A BBC new story about a bridge collapse. Substantive Popular: A one-hour documentary about the same bridge collapse. Professional: A blog on the American Society of Civil Engineer' website about implications for engineers because of the bridge collapse. Scholarly: A peer-reviewed journal article that analyzes the reasons for the bridge collapse and compares similar bridge collapses.

Graphic from Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research

CRAAP method

The CRAAP method guides you in evaluating your sources according to 5 different criteria: CURRENCY, RELEVANCY, AUTHORITY, ACCURACY, and PURPOSE. Outlined below are the criteria; these can guide you in writing the annotations for your annotated bibliography.

Currency

  • When was the information published or posted?
  • Has the information been revised or updated?
  • Is the information current or out-of-date for your topic?

Relevance

  • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
  • Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use? 
  • Would you be comfortable using this source within your research?

Authority

  • Who is the author/publisher/sponsor?
  • Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
    • What are those credentials or affiliations?
  • What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
  • Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?

Accuracy

  • Where does the information come from?
  • Is the information supported by evidence?
  • Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
  • Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
  • Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?

Purpose

  • What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
  • Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
  • Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
  • Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
  • Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?