Evaluating Sources

When evaluating sources, try the CARP test.

C--Currency (the timeliness of the information)

• When was the information published?
• Has the information been updated or revised?
• For your topic, is the information current or outdated?
• If a web resource, are the links functional?

A--Authority (the source of the information)

• Who is the author, publisher, or source of the information?
• What are the author's qualifications to write on your topic?
• Are the author's credentials or affiliations provided?
• What does the URL tell you about the source? Here are some examples:
  • .com (commercial)
  • .edu (educational)
  • .gov (U.S. government)
  • .org (nonprofit organization)
  • .mil (military)

R--Reliability (how accurate and complete the information is)

• What is the editing and publishing policy of the source?
• Is the source peer-reviewed?
  • A peer-reviewed or refereed article has been critically evaluated by scholars in the author’s field before publication.
• Does the source fact-check before publishing?
• Does the source provide documentation, such as footnotes or a bibliography?

P--Purpose (the reason the information exists) & Point of View (objective or biased viewpoint)

• Is the purpose of the information to inform, persuade, promote, sell, or share?
• Do the authors make their purpose clear?
• Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
• Is the point of view objective and impartial?
• Does the author want to influence change?
  • Tip: All writing, apart from the dissemination of pure facts, contains a certain amount of bias (aka point-of-view). Inflammatory language, derogatory name-calling, and hyperbole generally indicate a highly biased viewpoint and are not appropriate for academic research.