Thank you to the Foley Library at Gonzaga University for some of the content in this guide.
There are many ways to analyze sources for trustworthiness. CCOW is one method, but you may find an alternative like the CRAAP test or the REAL test better for your needs. These tests are not designed as checklists, a source does not need to meet a certain set of criteria to pass and be labeled as trustworthy. Instead, the CCOW test is a set of facets used to determine for yourself if a piece you are analyzing is trustworthy. You may not need to answer every question for each source. These acronyms are useful to remember key concepts, but they are just a starting off point for thinking about the work. In order to get a full picture, it is important to look beyond the actual source for verification. For example, a quick Google search for the author's name to ensure they work at the institution they claim to work at.
CCOW stands for: