The C.R.A.A.P.

Test
Use the rubric below to evaluate a website
Student Name: Website Address: www.

Criteria Evaluation Techniques 0 points 1 point 2 points 3 points Score

Currency • Is there a copyright or lasted updated date

on the page (top/bottom of page)?
There is no
indication of when
The date given for
the site’s creation is
The site has been
created or updated
The site has been
created or updated
• Are there any broken links? the site was create over 3 years old. within the last 3 within the last two
When was the
• Do you think it has current information for or last updated. Some broken links. years. No broken years or less. No
information written & last
doing research? Numerous broken links. broken links.
updated?
links.

Relevance • Does the website provide links to other

reliable sources (experts in the field)?
No links to sources. General statement
about the source of
There are a few links There are multiple
to sources or a links to sources or a
• Would you be comfortable using this source the info, but no works cited list. works cited list AND
Does the website provide
for a research paper? specific links to they are from other
enough information for
sources. No works reliable sources.
someone researching
cited.
about this topic?

Authority • What is the domain (.edu, .com, .org, .net,

.gov)?
This is an
individual’s page,
The home page is a
.com, .org, .net with
A known business,
professional
A government
department or
• Is it hosted by an individual person? .com site, or no affiliation from an association, society, agency is the home
Who is responsible for
• Is it sponsored by a trustworthy unknown with no organization. or museum hosts. page (.gov) or the
the information and are
organization? affiliation from a domain is .edu.
they a trustworthy
trustworthy
organization?
organization.

Accuracy • Are there spelling or grammar errors?

• Where does the information come from (the
There are multiple
spelling/grammatical
Provides information
but does not provide
Provides information
from some reliable
No spelling or
grammatical errors.
organization, experts in the field)? errors; not back by source. research or experts. All info is from
Is it reliable, truthful, or
reliable research or experts in the
correct?
experts in the field. field/trustworthy
sources.

Purpose • Who is the intended audience? Look in the

“About” tab or locate the “Mission
The purpose is
personal and to sell
Purpose is to
persuade or give a
Offers some factual
information. Some
The purpose is to
support scholarly
Statement”. something. biased view. Focus bias and/or research with factual
What is the reason the
• Why was it written? is to promote advertising. information.
information exists?
• Does the information seem fairly something. Balanced without
represented or is it biased, one-sided? any bias.

Tally your points and enter the score here:

12 to 15 points: Excellent source for research.
0
8 to 11 points: Good source for research or academic project. Before using, confirm with other sources.
4 to 7 points: Useful for ideas or casual projects. Do not cite as a reference for a research paper or project.
0 to 3 points: Highly questionable source.