March 27, 2021 Journal article Open Access

What is the CRAAP Test?

Marco Wilson

Do you believe all that you read? How do you know the psychological article you are reading is accurate, unbiased, and helpful?

The CRAAP Test is the first evaluating test online to check the research is valid or not. This test gives the correct result, and if you want the authorized content then The CRAAP Test is the best option.

Be that as it may, there is a more correct method of choice if a post is reliable and helpful.

We live in a world of data overload. Some information is great, and some of it needs to pass a CRAAP test. The letters in CRAAP represent - Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.

Currency

An article on mental illness published in Psychology Today 30 years ago, even if written by a top expert, may not reflect recent findings or our current conceptualization of mental illness.

Contrast with physics or chemistry, psychology is still a very modern science, and some of our most primary assumptions in the field have been challenged by new scientific findings.

So it is fundamental not to expect more seasoned views on character, conduct, and comprehension are essentially still acknowledged by mainstream researchers.

Some topics to ask about the currency of an article you are reading-

• When was the content written?
• When was it published?
• Has it been updated since then?

Relevance

As you start reading an article, keep in mind the reason you selected to read it. Sometimes the written material does not address the question you thought it would; perhaps the author failed to answer the question, the title was intentionally misleading, or you confused what the author expected to explain.

Questions regarding relevance-

• Why are you reading this information?
• Does it deliver what it promises?
• Are the language and coverage appropriate?

Authority

If the information you are reading comes from an individual’s personal experience, make sure the author is experienced enough in the field and has used a systematic approach to analyzing his or her experiences. Why? Because all of us, including doctors, are prone to many preferences.

Greater trust in the author is usually required when the information provided concerns a complex topic, is based solely on the author’s personal experience, or disagrees with what is widely believed by respected people in the field.

Questions regarding authority -

• Does the author have an academic degree in this area from a reputable college?
• If the information provided is based on experience, is the writer experienced enough?
• Are the writer’s conclusions based on an objective and systematic approach to evaluating his or her experiences?

Accuracy

Psychology is or inspires to be an empirical science, so major psychological claims need to be verified by scientific experiments. If what you are reading is said to come from research.

Science researchers often write in a manner that shows their respect for truth. For instance, they suggest that a variable makes some event more likely or probable, not certain. 

Questions regarding accuracy -

• Has the author cited sources for the assumptions and claims?
• Are most of the sources scholarly?
• Have the results of these studies been replicated?

Purpose

The last element of the CRAAP test is the purpose of the article. One may write for various purposes: Informing the reader of an occurrence, explaining how something happened, entertaining, selling, persuading, and other motivations.

Also 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. 

Questions regarding purpose -

• What is the author trying to accomplish?
• Is there any evidence of conflict of interest or hidden agenda?
• Is the report discussing a sensitive topic?
• Might the author’s personal feelings have negatively influenced the objectivity of the article?