Exercise 1: Applying the Full CRAAP Test — Possible Solution ================================================================ This exercise has no single correct source to analyze - the point is applying all five criteria honestly to something you actually read. A worked example, using a generic "online health tips blog post": CURRENCY: Fails if the post is several years old and covers a topic (e.g. current medical guidelines) that changes frequently; passes if either the content is genuinely timeless or the post is recently dated and topic-appropriate. RELEVANCE: Passes if the post directly addresses the specific question you had in mind, at a level of depth that actually answers it - fails if it only tangentially touches your question or is written at a level far too basic or advanced to be useful. AUTHORITY: Fails if the author has no stated credentials, affiliation, or checkable expertise in the subject; passes if the author is a named professional in a relevant field, or the outlet itself has a real, verifiable editorial standard. ACCURACY: Fails if claims are made with no citations or supporting evidence, or contradict what more authoritative sources say; passes if claims are backed by references you can independently verify elsewhere. PURPOSE: Fails if the primary purpose is selling a product or driving ad traffic disguised as neutral information; passes if the purpose is genuinely to inform, with any commercial interest disclosed openly. ANSWER: (worked example) Currency - passes/fails depending on publication date vs. topic volatility; Relevance - passes if it directly answers the reader's actual question; Authority - fails if no checkable credentials are given; Accuracy - fails if no verifiable citations support its claims; Purpose - fails if the underlying goal is selling something rather than informing. A source failing several criteria (especially Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose together) is a strong sign it shouldn't be relied on for a real research claim. WHY THIS WORKS AS AN ANSWER ------------------------------ This applies all five real CRAAP criteria individually, with a reasoned pass/fail judgment for each rather than a single vague overall impression, matching what the exercise asked for.