Mount A Libraries: MUSC 1201: Introduction to Western Art Music History: Critical Information Evaluation

Thinking Critically about Information

As part of your MUSC 1201 library assignment, and throughout the rest of your time at university and beyond, thinking critically about information and if it is appropriate for your need is a crucial skill as a student and academic.

Whether you are searching for scholarly information in a library, or if it is something for your own personal interest on the free Web, there are different evaluation frameworks that exist to help your critical thinking process.

One of the most popular (likely because of the name) is the CRAAP Test.

Applying the CRAAP Test

Currency: timeliness of information

When was the information created or published?
Has the information changed or been updated since it was published?
Is the information current or out-of-date?

Relevance: importance of information for your needs

How does the information help answer your question or address your topic?
Who was the information written for? Experts, students, general audience?
Is it an appropriate level? (too elementary or too advanced?)
Have you compared it against other possible sources?

Authority: source of the information

Who is the author or publisher?
What are their credentials or qualifications?
What are the author's institutional affiliations? (university, research institute, journalist, lobbyist)

Accuracy: reliability, accuracy, and truthfulness

Where did this information come from?
Is it supported by evidence?
Has it been reviewed or refereed?
Can you verify the information from your own knowledge or another source?
Is the writing unbiased or neutral in tone?

Purpose: why the information exists

What is the purpose of the information? To teach, inform, entertain, sell, persuade?
Is the information fact? Opinion? Propaganda?
Are the author's intentions clear?
Is the point of view objective or impartial?
Is the information driven by bias? Political, ideological, religious, cultural, institutional, personal?

Applying the CRAAP Test is important when evaluating any kind of information and is something to keep in mind when doing your assignment. Some parts of the CRAAP test will be less critical when looking at scholarly information which you are accessing from a reliable source, like the library. When you are looking at information freely available online, other aspects become more important, particularly the authority, accuracy, and purpose.