How many years is considered recent in research?

All being said, do we exactly know how old a research article can be before it gets the label of not being recent i.e., an old article not good for citing. There is consensus among scientists and researchers that articles less than five years old are recent publications.

How long is research considered current?

For faster-paced fields, sources published in the past 2-3 years is a good benchmark since these sources are more current and reflect the newest discoveries, theories, processes, or best practices.

What is classed as a recent study?

For newer topics that are actively being studied, “recent” might mean published in the past year or two. For older topics that are receiving less attention right now, “recent” might mean within the past 10 years. You will get a feel for what counts as recent for your topic when you start your literature search.

How long is research considered outdated?

Many researchers and reviewers consider research that is more than 5 years old — or even 3 — to be outdated and irrelevant. I have noticed that more reviewers, in their comments on a manuscript, are writing “out-of-date reference list,” to refer to lists that contain publications dating back further than 5 years.

How recent should research be?

Some journals specify that only literature within the past 5 years should be cited unless using classical sources or sources necessary to understand the study measures” (p. xiv). “The current expectation is for references to be no more than 5 years ago, unless the article is a classic or a benchmark study” (p.

How to find related research papers or article of the same topic or similar research

Why should references be within 5 years?

If the most recent reference is more than five years or so, this may indicate that a full up to date review of the literature has not been undertaken.

Why does research need to be recent?

Since research involves constantly testing, confirming, and rejecting hypotheses, staying updated with latest publications will help you define building blocks for your own research.

How do you know if research is outdated?

Take a closer look at the source

Additionally, check the date of publication. In some cases, it may not matter if the source is older or hasn't been recently updated, but in fields of study where information can rapidly change, the data may be obsolete.

How old should research data be?

Most researchers will store data for at least five years after final publication. You need to keep data for a further five years if you re-analyse data and publish again. The table below outlines the standard time-frames for storing research data.

What is an outdated study?

A research study is considered to be outdated when it is over three years old due to market/economic and consumer behavior variations, demographic changes, and alterations to the product.

Is 5 years ago considered recent?

That depends on the context. In the context of my own life, 'recent' is within the last five or ten years. Before that, we have the period known as 'not very long ago' which goes back to - oh - about 2000. Call that the 'almost recent'.

What is the NHS definition of research?

NHS England uses the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research definition of research: “… the attempt to derive generalisable or transferable new knowledge to answer or refine relevant questions with scientifically sound methods. This excludes audits of practice and service evaluation.

How do you determine level of evidence?

Levels of evidence (sometimes called hierarchy of evidence) are assigned to studies based on the research design, quality of the study, and applicability to patient care. Higher levels of evidence have less risk of bias.

How far back should a literature review go?

A literature review from the past 5-20 years is good enough. But depending on the, one may go beyond this range. 15 to 20 years is the most appropriate time period.

What is the 10 year rule for research?

The 10-year rule does not mean that we cannot discuss more recent events with our students, and in fact it allows us to use history as a tool to understand our present and make prescriptions for the future. Our profession is as relevant and important now as it as ever been, yet it is also ignored, and studiously so.

How old can a published source be and still be considered current?

There is consensus among scientists and researchers that articles less than five years old are recent publications. However, it may vary from discipline to discipline.

How long should research data be kept UK?

For basic research – at least 10 years after the study has been completed. For population health and clinical studies – at least 20 years after study completion. appropriate 'safeguards'). If research data are no longer useful, or unlikely to be used in further research, then you should consider their destruction.

Is it okay to use old research papers?

Answer: You can use data from a previously published paper, provided you cite the source clearly. However, when using the data, make sure that your new work is distinctly different from the previous study.

Can you publish old research?

If the research is still a new/different method, then it doesn't matter when you did it. No one is going to ask. If the method was novel then, but now several people have published about it and you can not add anything to the current literature, then it is not worth publishing.

How do you know if research is relevant?

What makes an article current?

The date information was published or produced tells you how current it is or how contemporaneous it is with the topic you are researching.

Why is publication date important in research?

Date of Publication: you should know the publication date because the topic that you are writing about determines how old the information can be. It is important to know the frequency of publications. If it is an online article it is important to know how frequent the database loads articles from print sources.

How do you stay up to date in a research field?

Can you use a reference from 4 years ago?

A common question among job seekers is, “How far back can I go to ask people I've worked with before to be references for me?” As a general rule, the answer is not more than five to 10 years. However, a variety of different things can ultimately determine the correct answer for your situation.

Is it OK to use old references?

Some Dos and Don'ts for Reference Citation

Don't repeatedly cite yourself. Make sure to balance your discussion with external literature citations. Be careful about citing old references. The rule of thumb is to go back at most five to six years.