CRAAP Test Analysis

The CRAAP test stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose. These 5 criteria are highly important when looking for reliable and reasonable sources to base your argument on. However, this test can also be utilized for any kind of research paper.
“Currency” asks about the “timeliness” of the information, i.e. how recent the information is as it is critical to have up-to-date information relevant to your topic or issue.
“Relevancy” is a criterion questioning if the information is applicable in the context you would like to use it
“Authority” is another important aspect of researching information. Since nowadays, almost anyone can publish information, in particular on the Internet, it is essential to know the source of information. Talking about the Internet, you have to keep an eye on the URL. If it says .org, .edu or .gov, these sites are more reliable than the .com-sites since the facts given are usually verified and only members and authors of this site are allowed to publish there.
In addition, there is “Accuracy”, meaning the reliability, correctness and truthfulness of the information distributed. This criterion focuses on the source of information, the language and whether or not it contains certain biases and spelling mistakes. And it is fair to say that “Accuracy” and “Authority” are pretty similar.
“Purpose” – the final principle when selecting information from other sources concentrates on the question “why was the information published?” for instance was the information published to entertain, to teach or to persuade the audience.
Finally, when writing an argument paper or any kind of research paper, it is extremely critical to screen the information available properly and not to be distracted by biased and improperly researched information. Additionally, be very careful when using the internet for your research as anyone can use it as a personal platform to spread nonsense.