Evaluating sources and reading critically

Video guide

Planning

Before you start reading, make sure that you are reading with a clear purpose:

  • Analyze your assignment brief carefully to understand what is required.
  • Reflect on what you already know: review your relevant notes.
  • Consider what new knowledge you need to acquire
  • Think about what evidence will be necessary to complete your assignment

Evaluating sources

Different types of texts can be used as sources for your academic work. They all have advantages and disadvantages:

Text type Advantage Disadvantage
Textbook Written for students Might be too general or outdated
Website Usually up to date Possibly unreliable and unedited
Journal article Often focuses on a specific area May be too specialized or complex
Official report Contains a lot of detail May not be objective
Newspaper or magazine article Easy to read and up to date May not be objective and not give sources

Adapted from Bailey (2015, p12)

CRAAP test

Use the CRAAP test to help you evaluate an academic source and decide if it is reliable or unreliable. This section is adapted from Benedictine University (2019).

Currency

The timeliness of the information.

  • When was it published or posted?
  • Has the information been revised or updated?
  • Is the information current or out of date for your topic?
Relevance

The importance of the information for your needs.

  • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Have you looked at a variety of sources before choosing this one?
Authority

The source of the information.

  • Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
  • What are the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations given?
  • What are the author’s qualifications to write on the topic?
Accuracy

The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content.

  • Is the information supported by evidence?
  • Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
  • Can you verify any of the information in another source?
Purpose

The reason the information exists.

  • What is the purpose of the information?
  • Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
  • Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?

Engaging critically with the ideas

Make sure you take an active approach and engage with the writer’s ideas while reading.
When you read the material, ask yourself:

  • How robust are the research methods, findings and evidence?
  • Are there any logical leaps?
  • Does the weight of the evidence justify the conclusion?
  • How do the arguments and evidence relate to other sources?

After reading critically, you will need to be able to write critically.  You can use the Critical Thinking Checklist as a guide.

References

Bailey, S. (2015). Academic Writing for International Students of Business. London: Routledge.

Benedictine University (2019) Evaluating Sources: The CRAAP Test. Available at: https://researchguides.ben.edu/source-evaluation (Accessed 24 June 2020).