• 3.4: CRAAP – Authority

    As we noted in our discussion of ethos, the author's qualifications are incredibly important during your source evaluation. Does the author have a good reputation as a quality scholar? Do they have the ability to observe? Ideally, you want to learn from the person who conducted the study rather than someone who wrote about it. Do they have expertise in the area? For example, did they earn an academic degree that is relevant to your research? Is the author neutral, or do they appear to be trying to convince or persuade you to believe something?

    Be sure to search the internet for information about the author's academic and professional background. You are looking for the author's credentials: Does the author hold a position at a college, university, or research institute? Do they have personal ethos? You may also want to examine the reputation of the place where they work. Note that we will look at the "sponsoring organization" and other online-specific tips for evaluating online sources in Unit 4.