IB 110 Chap.4 Evaluating Sources with the CRAAP Test
Evaluating Sources with the CRAAP Test
Why source evaluation comes first
The first discussion section of the semester is about where information comes from, and the third lecture repeats that finding and judging high-quality resources is critical for the class. The syllabus itself asks that anything presented as fact be supported by a credible source.
The skill therefore underlies every written answer in the course.
Three tiers of source
The discussion slides rank sources. Primary sources contain original data and analysis and have been peer reviewed; the slides call them excellent. Secondary sources, such as reviews by scientists or agencies, discuss primary work and are rated good.
Tertiary sources, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias and handbooks, summarise and are rated fair. Wikipedia and personal blogs are good places to begin a search but not sources to rely on.
Citing honestly
Two rules sit side by side. You must cite whatever you used, even if it was a weak source, because that is where your information came from.
And you should prefer peer-reviewed research, recognised international agencies, government agencies and reference works, using news media only as primary sources. The slides also encourage citing community knowledge, from relatives to local activists, as a way to credit knowledge that academia often overlooks.
A full citation includes authors, date, article title, journal, volume and issue, page range and DOI, in any consistent style.
The five criteria
CRAAP stands for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy and purpose. The discussion rubric scores each from 0 to 3. For currency, a source under five years old earns 3 when timeliness matters.
For authority, a source with no identifiable author, sponsor or contact details earns 0. For accuracy, opinion without evidence earns 0. For purpose, a source written to inflame or spread misinformation earns 0. A zero on any criterion means finding another source.
Practising on a real rumour
The first discussion reading gives students a social media claim about vaccines alongside a research preprint and a public health report, and asks them to extract the details that decide credibility.
The same approach applies to every topic in the course, from air quality to health disparities.
When two credible sources disagree
A question in the third lecture raises a harder case: two sources both pass the test yet report different findings. The test only tells you that each is worth weighing. The next step is to compare who was studied, when, with what measures and at what scale.
Often the two sources answered slightly different questions, and an answer that explains why they differ is stronger than one that quietly picks a side.
What this chapter covers
- 01
Why the course starts with sources
- 02
Primary, secondary and tertiary sources
- 03
What you must cite
- 04
What you should cite
- 05
The parts of a full citation
- 06
The five CRAAP criteria
- 07
Scoring from 0 to 3
- 08
When two good sources disagree
Worked example · free
Rank two sources on the same air quality claim
- 2Score the blog post.
- 2Score the study.
- 2Decide and justify.
Key terms
- Primary Source
- A source that reports original data and analysis, usually peer reviewed.
- Peer Review
- Evaluation of research by other experts in the field before publication.
- Digital Object Identifier
- A permanent identifier, or DOI, that locates a published article online.
Evaluating Sources with the CRAAP Test FAQ
What does CRAAP stand for?
Currency, relevance, authority, accuracy and purpose. The discussion rubric scores each criterion from 0 to 3, and a zero on any of them is a signal to find a better source.
Can I cite Wikipedia or news articles in IB 110?
The slides call Wikipedia a good starting point but not a good source. News media should be cited only as primary sources, and anything you actually used must be cited regardless of quality.
What citation style should I use?
The slides show Chicago style, which requires DOIs, but say the course is looking for consistency. Include authors, date, title, journal, volume and issue, pages and DOI.
Exam move
Keep a source log for the semester. For every source you use, record the five CRAAP scores and one sentence on why it earned its lowest score. Review the log before each written assignment.
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