Smart Source Evaluation: How to Spot CRAAP and Avoid Bad Citations
You open a search result and need to decide fast whether it belongs in your project. Run the CRAAP test on every source before you pull a quote or add it to your reference list.
Run the CRAAP Test in Five Steps
- Currency: Check the publication or update date. A 2014 article on TikTok algorithms fails here when your paper covers 2023 platform changes.
- Relevance: Read the abstract or first two paragraphs. Does the main claim actually match your research angle, or did the title pull you in under false pretenses?
- Authority: Look for the author’s name, credentials, and affiliation. A Medium post by an unnamed “researcher” carries less weight than a paper from a named professor at a known university.
- Accuracy: Scan for citations or data sources inside the piece. If claims sit without links or references, open a second tab and verify one key fact.
- Purpose: Ask why the page exists. A .com site selling supplements that also posts “studies” on vitamins usually has a sales goal first.
Check Citations with a Quick Table
| Source type | Red flag | Next move |
|---|---|---|
| Blog post | No date or author | Search the claim on Google Scholar |
| News article | Only one anonymous source | Find the original study it cites |
| Website | Statistics without links | Trace the number to its origin report |
Keep a short checklist on your screen while you draft: date present, author named, main claim supported, and purpose matches my needs. When any box stays empty, skip the citation and move to the next result.
