1
Origin
Where did the information come from?
Ask
- Who published or distributed it?
- What kind of source is it?
- Is it primary or secondary?
- Can you locate the original version?
Look deeper
- Read the publisher’s About page laterally.
- Check editorial or review standards.
- Trace reposted statistics and quotations.
- Remember: a domain is a clue, not proof.
Do not stop at the URL. Investigate the organization responsible for the information and how it reached you.
2
Author
Who created it, and how would that person know?
Ask
- What relevant education or experience does the author have?
- Has the author published credible work on this topic?
- Is the author identified clearly?
- Is the expertise relevant to this exact claim?
Add RAVEN’s strongest questions
- Ability to observe: Did the author witness, conduct, or access the evidence?
- Vested interest: What might the author gain if readers accept the claim?
- Is the author speaking inside or outside their field?
Impressive credentials are not enough. Explain why this author is positioned to know about this specific subject.
3
Purpose
Why was the source created?
Ask
- Was it created to inform, persuade, entertain, advocate, or sell?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Who funded or sponsored the work?
- What action or belief does the creator want from the audience?
Watch for
- Advertising presented as information
- Selective evidence or missing context
- Emotional or urgent language
- Unclear sponsorship or funding
A persuasive purpose does not automatically disqualify a source. It changes what you must verify and how you should use it.
4
Perspective
What experiences, assumptions, or interests shape the source?
Ask
- What point of view is represented?
- Which stakeholders or lenses are emphasized?
- What voices or information are missing?
- How does tone influence the audience?
Move beyond “biased”
- Name the specific position or interest.
- Explain how it shapes selection or interpretation.
- Separate factual claims from value judgments.
- Seek other informed perspectives.
Every source has a perspective. The goal is to understand its influence, not pretend that useful sources must be perfectly neutral.
5
Relevance
How directly does the source help answer your question?
Ask
- Which part of the research question does it address?
- Does it provide background, evidence, perspective, or a counterargument?
- Is the population, place, or time period comparable?
- Is the information current enough for this topic?
Do not confuse “related” with “relevant”
- Identify the exact claim the source could support.
- Check when the research, not only the article, was produced.
- Note important differences in context.
- Decide whether the connection is direct or limited.
A highly credible source can still be irrelevant. Relevance is the connection between this information and the work your argument needs it to do.
6
Academic Quality
How carefully is the source researched, supported, and reviewed?
Ask
- Are claims supported with evidence and citations?
- Can the evidence be verified?
- Are methods, data, or limitations explained?
- Was the work peer reviewed or editorially reviewed?
Add CRAAP’s accuracy check
- Compare important claims with independent sources.
- Follow citations to the original evidence.
- Look for corrections, retractions, or disputed findings.
- Check whether conclusions exceed the evidence.
“Peer reviewed” is not the end of evaluation. You must still understand the research and judge whether its evidence supports the claim being made.