checkSelfPermission method is not working in targetSdkVersion 22

The method Context#checkSelfPermission(String) was added to the API 23. Also below API 23 it's pointless as the permission is always granted. Make a check for the API version before handling the permissions

private void insertDummyContactWrapper() {
    // the only way we insert the dummy contact if if we are below M.
    // Else we continue on and prompt the user for permissions
    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < Build.VERSION_CODES.M) {
        insertDummyContact();
        return;
    }

    List<String> permissionsNeeded = new ArrayList<String>();

    final List<String> permissionsList = new ArrayList<String>();
    if (!addPermission(permissionsList, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION))
        permissionsNeeded.add("GPS");
    if (!addPermission(permissionsList, Manifest.permission.READ_CONTACTS))
        permissionsNeeded.add("Read Contacts");
    if (!addPermission(permissionsList, Manifest.permission.WRITE_CONTACTS))
        permissionsNeeded.add("Write Contacts");
    if (permissionsList.size() > 0) {
        if (permissionsNeeded.size() > 0) {
            // Need Rationale
            String message = "You need to grant access to " + permissionsNeeded.get(0);
            for (int i = 1; i < permissionsNeeded.size(); i++)
                message = message + ", " + permissionsNeeded.get(i);
            showMessageOKCancel(message,
                    new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
                        @Override
                        public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
                            requestPermissions(permissionsList.toArray(new String[permissionsList.size()]),
                                    REQUEST_CODE_ASK_MULTIPLE_PERMISSIONS);
                        }
                    });
            return;
        }
        requestPermissions(permissionsList.toArray(new String[permissionsList.size()]),
                REQUEST_CODE_ASK_MULTIPLE_PERMISSIONS);
    }
}

Reference: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Context.html#checkSelfPermission(java.lang.String)

1. If your application is targeting API level before 23 (Android M) then both: ContextCompat#checkSelfPermission and Context#checkSelfPermission won't work and always return 0 (PERMISSION_GRANTED). Even if you run the application on Android 6.0 (API 23).

2. It isn't fully true that if you targeting API level before 23 then you don't have to take care of permissions. If your application is targeting API level before 23 and target device Android version is:

   • Android < 6.0: Everything will be ok.
   • Android 6.0: Application's run-time permissions will be granted by default (compatibility mode applies), but the user can change run-time permissions in Android Settings, then you may have problems.

3. As I said in the 1st point, if you targeting API level before 23 on Android 6.0 then ContextCompat#checkSelfPermission and Context#checkSelfPermission won't work. Fortunately you can use PermissionChecker#checkSelfPermission to check run-time permissions.

Example code:

    public boolean selfPermissionGranted(String permission) {
        // For Android < Android M, self permissions are always granted.
        boolean result = true;

        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M) {
            
            if (targetSdkVersion >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M) {
                // targetSdkVersion >= Android M, we can
                // use Context#checkSelfPermission
                result = context.checkSelfPermission(permission)
                        == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED;
            } else {
                // targetSdkVersion < Android M, we have to use PermissionChecker
                result = PermissionChecker.checkSelfPermission(context, permission)
                        == PermissionChecker.PERMISSION_GRANTED;
            }
        }

        return result;
    }

To get target Sdk Version you can use:

    try {
        final PackageInfo info = context.getPackageManager().getPackageInfo(
                context.getPackageName(), 0);
        targetSdkVersion = info.applicationInfo.targetSdkVersion;
    } catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }

It works on Nexus 5 with Android M.