Library Guides: ENG 1000 Introduction to Academic Writing: Finding Credible Sources

Finding good sources isn't just about searching. You need to evaluate how good they are and whether they fit your needs.

There are a number of ways to do this, but using the C.R.A.A.P. checklist and lateral reading are two excellent options.

You may also want to double-check whether you are looking at something more academic or a popular article. Always go back to the original source rather than cite the popular article.

Evaluate Your Source with the CRAAP Test

The CRAAP test guides us through some questions to ask about a source to determine its quality.

Currency

- When was this published? Has it been updated?
- Is the information still accurate now or is it out-of-date or incomplete?

Relevance

- Will this source help you understand your topic or complete your assignment?
- Does this source meet your assignment's criteria?

Authority

- Who published this? Is this a source others trust?
- Who wrote this? What are their credentials?

Accuracy

- Is there evidence for claims made–maybe citations?
- Can you verify the information in other places?
- Do we know or believe this information was reviewed before publication--whether by fact-checkers or through a peer-review process?

Purpose

- Is this source trying to sell something? Is it intended to entertain?
- Are these opinions, based on one perspective, or facts?
- Does this source seem biased?

Tip: You can answer these questions using information from the source and the rest of the web. Don't recognize a publication or website? Google it to see what others are saying!

Lateral Reading

Learn more about a source to determine its credibility. What is the website or organization? Do others trust it?

Open a new tab to search for information about the website from others.
Look for information on the website itself about who they are. Keep an eye out for mission, funding, and potential biases.
Open a new tab and search for the claims in your source. See if other reliable sources are reporting the same thing or go to the origin of the claim.

Popular Vs Scholarly

Popular vs. Scholarly Articles

Popular Articles:	Scholarly Articles:
Written by journalists, professional writers, or bloggers. The authors' credentials are not readily apparent. Written for the average reader Written to be easily understandable to a wide audience Usually without formal citations Colorful images and advertisements present Websites, blogs, newspapers. These can also found in databases such as Lexis Nexis Academic, Newspaper Source, and MagPortal Popular journals do not use a peer-review process. Trusted sources will edit and fact-check material before publishing it.	Written by academics, professors and experts. The author’s credentials are usually provided. Written for professionals, professors, college and graduate students More advanced language and jargon Citations and a bibliography or works cited page will be provided No advertisements, no or few images Often found in library databases such as Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO, ERIC, and JSTOR Articles are peer reviewed. Scholarly journals only publish articles after they have gone through a peer-review process where other experts in the field confirm the accuracy of research methodology and findings.
Examples of Popular Publications:	Examples of Scholarly Publications:
The New Yorker Time Magazine Huffington Post	Journal of Youth and Adolescence Journal of School Nursing Contemporary Justice Review

Did You Know?

You can limit your search to scholarly articles by checking the "peer-reviewed articles" filter before or after you search in a library database.