Skip to main content

Evaluating Resources – do you use the CRAAP test? (#23)

Once you have found some information resources you need to check whether they are going to help answer your question. The CRAAP test is a tool to help you to remember what to check for when you are deciding whether to use the information source that you have found. It covers the basics that you need to think about.

Summary of the CRAAP checklist - currency, relevancy, authority, accuracy and purpose
Summary of the CRAAP checklist - currency, relevancy, authority, accuracy and purpose
When you use the CRAAP test you should check the resource you are evaluating for:

  • Currency – is the resource you are looking at recent? Does it contain up-to-date information?
  • Relevancy – is the information relevant to your question. Don’t waste your time looking at irrelevant information
  • Authority – can you tell who has written the information? Who is the publisher or author? Are they qualified on this topic?
  • Accuracy – is the information accurate? Does the argument flow logically? Are there references that you can validate?
  • Purpose – what is the key purpose of the resource? Is it to educate, promote research or to sell you something or collect your data?

If an information resource fails the CRAAP test it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is... well… umm... you know, not very good, just that it is not suitable for your purpose. You don’t want to waste time searching around resources that are not going to help you to answer your question.

You can learn more about the CRAAP text by completing our short etutorial Evaluating Information.

Here is an even shorter video summary:





Comments

Popular posts from this blog

BMJ Case Reports - the journal for unusual clinical cases

 You can browse or search the journal BMJ Case Reports for unusual clinical cases. This journal includes rare conditions and unexpected complications. Cases are peer-reviewed and offer excellent case-based learning to support your professional development. You can also submit your own case reports for free! This gives you an opportunity to share your knowledge and become a published author. Access to this journal is available to UHNM staff, via their NHS OpenAthens username. You'll find a link to this journal, as well as other resources on our NHS Resources page . There is more help, including links to instructions for authors, on our BMJ Case Reports help page . If you need more help or information just ask at the Health Library .

Royal Marsden Manual - key resource for nursing guidelines and procedures

 Make sure you are delivering best practice to your patients by checking the Royal Marsden Manual online. Nursing staff and healthcare and nursing assistants working in the NHS can access the Royal Marsden Manual for key guidelines and procedures. This resource has a user-friendly design where you can search for topics or browse through the chapters. Content includes evidence-based procedures, as well as illustrations and references to offer you the best practical advice to support your patients. It is regularly updated, so always worth checking in to get the most recent evidence. Royal Marsden Manual online is available to all NHS staff, via NHS OpenAthens login. You'll find a link to this resource, along with many others, on our NHS Resources page . Check our Royal Marsden Manual help page for instructions on how to log in. Wiley, the publishers, offer regular online training sessions - we'll post the dates on our blog. Or ask our trainers if you want a quick overview. If y...

What is NHS OpenAthens?

 To access our NHS-subscribed, online resources you need a username / password - this is an NHS OpenAthens username / password. OpenAthens is a protocol that allows you to log in to many different online resources using just one username and password. It is a service purchased by the NHS so that all NHS staff can easily access online resources such as ebooks, articles, journals, databases and clinical tools. To register for your NHS OpenAthens username complete the online form . Need more help? For more help you can: Contact your NHS OpenAthens administrator Complete our etutorial: NHS OpenAthens - what's fact or fake? Go to our NHS OpenAthens web page Go to our NHS OpenAthens help page