---
id: '0004'
title: 'Source quality grading: the CRAAP framework adapted for AI agent research'
status: open
evidence: CONFIRMED
sources: 1
created: '2026-03-29'
---

## Claim

The CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose), developed by California State University librarians in 2004, is the standard framework for evaluating source credibility. For research.md, a simplified adaptation would categorize sources into tiers: (1) PRIMARY — original data, surveys, case studies, official documentation, (2) EXPERT — industry analysis, experienced practitioners, peer-reviewed work, (3) SECONDARY — aggregation articles, comparison guides, educational content, (4) VENDOR — content produced by a company with a commercial interest in the conclusion. The tier should be recorded per-source on each finding. A finding citing only VENDOR sources cannot be marked CONFIRMED. This is lightweight enough to not burden the agent but structural enough to force awareness of source quality. The CRAAP framework is widely adopted in academic settings and described as 'of sound academic value' by EBSCO Research.

## Supporting Evidence

> **Evidence: [CONFIRMED]** — CRAAP Test (California State University Chico, via NWACC Library, Benedictine University, NJIT, Scribbr), EBSCO Research Starters, Wikipedia (CRAAP test history and adoption), retrieved 2026-03-29

## Caveats

None identified yet.
