Skip to Main Content

ENG 090 - Hathaway-Pollard

What you should know...

You probably know that anyone can put anything on the web. You might even be aware that much information on the web is inaccurate. Some misinformation is unintentional -- a result of sloppy or incomplete research. But other sites contain inaccurate information on purpose. Sometimes these sites are for fun and entertainment, sometimes they are created to intentionally mislead. 

Spoof: Website 1

This site is a little more tricky; it's an example of a website with entirely fake information, but designed to look as if it's legit.  A quick glance at the home page makes it seem like any other research hospital, but look again; the activities of this "medical center" don't bear close examination.

CRAAP Test:

  • CURRENCY - there is no copyright date apparent on the website
  • RELEVANCE - the content appears to be written for potential patients
  • AUTHORITY - the website relies on its self-proclaimed research hospital status as its authority; it is affiliated with a medical school that, according to Google, doesn't exist; and the only contact information is an address that Google Maps cannot find, and an online form that doesn't state to whom it is sent
  • ACCURACY - though it appears unbiased with accurate spelling and grammar, all the information about the hospital, its staff and its research is stated without any references at all; many of the links are not functioning
  • PURPOSE - the site's purpose appears to highlight its so-called medical breakthroughs, but the content reveals this site to be an entertaining hoax

Explanation: Just because a website looks good doesn't mean the content is real, as this spoof website demonstrates!

Practice Evaluating Websites

To practice evaluating websites you find, let's apply the CRAAP tests to the sites below. 

  • First, let's take a look at two spoof websites.  They both have obvious problems, but trying out the CRAAP test on them will help you in evaluating other websites that may fool you into believing they are credible sources.
  • Second, try comparing information on a topic from three different websites to see which would be the best to use in an academic research paper.  Remember to check the footers, top menus, and the About sections of each page!

Spoof: Website 2

 screen shot of the home page for globalwarming.org

Explanation: Bias and Extreme Point of View

Subjects: English