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.
Watch this video to learn how to think about what you are looking for as you work to establish authority.
You can evaluate the credibility of a book's author pretty easily without knowing a lot about its content. The name of the author is usually on the book's cover or title page. Their biographical information is often included on the back cover, inside flap, or back matter of the book.
The author of a magazine or newspaper article is usually located near the title. Journal articles often list the author's college or institutional affiliation.
The author of an online article may be listed near the title or at the end of the story. You may need to visit another site in the "about this site" or "about the author" link. You can also search the internet to find the author's biography, personal website, or alternative social media site. Authors do not typically publish their personal ethos in scholarly journals – they are writing for professional ethos reasons. However, in magazines, newspapers, and online blogs, you often see examples of personal ethos, especially in the opinions or op-ed section.
Watch this video, which explains how to determine an author's credibility, influence, and affiliations using these metrics. This video will help you deepen your analysis of the authority of your source.