We live in a world of information overload. Some of that information is great. And some of it needs to pass a CRAAP test. BBC writer David Robson says, “We are bombarded with information all day, every day, and we therefore often rely on our intuition to decide whether something is accurate.” But if the only measure for the reliability and value of a source is our intuition, we’re teetering on the edge of a slippery slope.
Thankfully, we have guidelines to help us. We have theories for better research that can help us create better content and better presentations. Today we’ll cover Sarah Blakeslee’s CRAAP test. The acronym isn’t just memorable, it’s appropriate. When we examine a source for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose, we elevate our research and our support.
Currency
Currency addresses issues of timeliness. It seeks to answer questions that will help you decide if the information is up to date or out of date. Try looking for a publication or posting date. Then see if there is any evidence of material maintenance. Is this information being updated or maintained in any way? Has someone been caring for it? Also see if there is more current information that may be more helpful to your research. Just because it was published fairly recently doesn’t mean there isn’t another source with even more current and more helpful information out there.
Relevance
Relevance addresses whether or not this particular information is helpful for your particular project, presentation, or audience. It seeks to figure out whether this information matters given the context. It can be especially tempting to include information that is funny or moving simply because it is funny or moving. But if it doesn’t have a direct tie to what you are presenting, leave it out. Look instead for something funny or moving that is also highly relevant.
Authority
Authority aims to examine the credibility of a source. If you can’t tell who wrote it or what organization published it, steer clear. Choose transparent authority over anonymity every time. Look for credentials and publications. In addition, look for contact information. Could you get in touch with the organization or author if you had further questions or wanted to follow up on the information or research?
Accuracy
Accuracy is one of the toughest things to measure given our “fake news” culture in which we distrust so much of what the media puts out. In the MLA Guide to Digital Literacy, Ellen Carillo says, “There was a time when experts, editors, and fact-checkers were primarily responsible for assessing the credibility of information. But now that there is so much information online and anyone can publish anything on the Web, the responsibility has shifted to everyday citizens to assess information and to develop tools for doing so.” So just because something is in print, doesn’t mean it’s accurate. Its up to us to ask questions about how reliable or true the information we are reading is. And we can use the other categories of the CRAAP test to help us determine that.
Purpose
Finally, you’ll want to ask questions about the purpose of the information. Why does this information exist? Who was the intended audience? What reason did the author have for publishing this? Psychology Today says to “look for ulterior motives, conflicts of interest, and hidden agendas. Even a highly objective researcher may sometimes, intentionally or unintentionally, provide biased guidance or make unsubstantiated claims.” Dig into the roots of the information to see what it grew from and what is hidden there.
When you evaluate a source using the CRAAP test, you are building the solid foundation on which your presentation will stand. And when you get up to speak, you do so responsibly and confidently. Because you know that the information you share isn’t just something you happened across. It is information that you’ve examined with a careful eye, that you’ve held to high standards, and that you have determined is worth passing on. In doing this, you show that you respect not only your own communication, but those who will hear it.
Ethos3 believes great presentations spring from responsible and thoughtful communication. How can we help you with your next great presentation?
