Research Tips for Prof Schnee's English Class: How Good are Your Googled Sources Anyway?
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| From the article "Covid-19 Upends Immigration," SHRM.org |
Greetings, Professor Schnee's Class!
While you are still taking classes online, it might feel easier to Google research for your college assignments. HOWEVER, please know that, while you are a KBCC student, you have access to our library resources available on the Kingsborough Library website. Just use the OneSearch link on our homepage for your topics. And let me know if you need help: julie.turley@kbcc.cuny.edu
For thinking about Googled resources, you might find this blog post helpful--so much of the information you might find on Google doesn't really meet the standards for college-level research. You are probably familiar with evaluating Googled sources for your daily research needs (finding the nearest coffee shop, jobs, etc), but what's the best way to evaluate sources found on Google for your college work?
One of the ways you can do this is to go through the five points of the CRAAP test. These points are explained below:
Currency: When was the information published or posted?
- Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
- Are the website links functional?
Relevance: Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
Authority: Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor of this web resource?
- What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
- How do you know if the author qualified to write on the topic?
- Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net
Accuracy: Is the information supported by evidence? Has the information been reviewed or screened?
- Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
- Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
- Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
Purpose: What is the purpose of the information?
- Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
- Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
- Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?
Here's a short video on the CRAAP test:
Let's say my research question is "How has Covid-19 affected immigration?" I use the keywords "immigration" and "Covid-19" in Google. Here are four sources I found. Would the sources below pass the CRAAP?:
Source #1 from Time magazine online:
President Trump has Blocked New Legal immigrants
Source #2 from the New York Post online:
Trump is Clearly Right: We Don't Need New Immigrants Headed Directly to Welfare
Source #3 from the Cato Institute:
Timeline and List of US Immigration Actions on Covid-19
Source #4:
Covid-19 Upends U.S. Immigration
Possible questions to ask about Internet sources you find:
Q: Which one of these "best" pass the CRAAP test?
A: Article #1 from Time includes verified, researched facts and draws from a number of sources, making for strong reporting on this issue. The information is also presented objectively. See the two "As" in the CRAAP test: "Authority" and "Accuracy."
A: It seems pretty obvious that Article #2 is an opinion piece, reflecting the views of one author. Evidence is gathered to support one opinion. See the "P" in "Purpose" in the CRAAP test.
Q: Is Source #3 an objective source? Why or why not?
A: If you look up the Cato Institute, you will see they represent a particular political stance that could reflect the information they present. See the "P" in "Purpose."
Please let me know if you'd like to discuss your research question/key words, or show me any source you find for Professor Schnee's assignments: Librarian/Professor Julie Turley julie.turley@kbcc.cuny.edu
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