Source Criticism


Source criticism is a method of evaluating information. It allows us to question information regarding reliability, accuracy and purpose.

To ensure a piece of information is trustworthy, we use a questioning process outlined below. Take a look at the video about presenting source criticism.

CRAAP - a method to use when you evaluate your sources

Currency: the timeline of the information...

  • When was the information published or updated?
  • Are the links updated?

Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs...

  • To what extent does the information relate to your topic or answer your questions?
  • How do you know this is the best/ a a good source?

Authority: the source of the information...

  • Who is the author/publisher/source?
  • What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
  • Can you find contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail adress?




Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content...

  • Where does the information come from?
  • Is the information supported by evidence (statistics for example)
  • Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?
  • Are there spelling, grammar, or other errors?
  • Can you verify any of the information in other sources?

Purpose: the reason the information exists...

  • What is the purpose of the information?
  • Is the information fact/opinion/propaganda?
  • Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?

Take a look at the CRAAP Worksheet

Here you can find more information about Source Criticism

Vad är källkritik? Internetstiftelsen i Sverige

Källkritik Webbstjärnan Webbstjärnan

Källkritik Skolverket Skolverket informerar

Kolla Källan Wiki Kolla Källan

Lilla Viralgranskaren Metro

How to evalute your sources WikiHow

How to write Source Criticism?

Watch the clip to the left from UR's series about Study technique - Orka Plugga.

Fake news and filter bubbles

Fake news : What is it? BBC

Viralgranskaren, which is a part of Metro, scrutinize news to see if they are fake. There is also English pages that does this, like Snopes.

Learn more about fake news, biased news and troll factories: Fejkade sidor, Partiska röster, Tid och rum, Bildsökning.

Do you want to read fake news (for fun)? Go to Storkens nyheter .

Filterbubblan is a tool for you to spot how a political debate sounds like from three different political point of views.

Digitala fotspår och filterbubblor, an episode from “Orka plugga” UR.

Analyzing images

Statens medieråd offers two materials aimed for analyzing images: Propaganda och bilders makt och Könsnormer i bildspråket.

Kunskapsbanken Bilders makt is a free material with images, movies and texts about stereotypical images, especially rasist stereotyps.

Att tolka bilder, an episode of ”Orka plugga” from UR.