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NUR 67700: Cognate Residency: Knowledge Translation: Websites

Clinical Guidelines Websites

Websites

Website Evaluation

Googling for information may produce lots of results, but how can we evaluate the quality of those sites?  

TAKE THE CRAAP TEST!

CURRENCY: The timeliness of the information.

  • When was the information posted?
  • Are the links functional and not out-of-date?

RELEVANCE: The importance of the information for your needs.

  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or too advanced for your needs)?
  • Would you be comfortable citing this source on your reference page?

AUTHORITY: The source of the information.

  • Is the author, source, or sponsor identified? What are the author's credentials?
  • Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source (ex. .com, .edu, .gov)?

ACCURACY: The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content.

  • Where does the information come from?
  • Has the information been peer reviewed?
  • Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?

PURPOSE:  The reason the information exists.

  • What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, persuade, or entertain?
  • Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
  • Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

The CRAAP test was developed in 2004 by librarians at California State University at Chico and provides a quick method for examining the quality of any information source -- especially websites.