Is it okay to use old research papers?

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.

Is it OK to cite old papers?

If past papers are relevant to to the present paper, there is no problem to cite them.

How old can sources be for a research paper?

References can be as old as they need to be to cover the material. I had some that were more than 30 years old. But if all of your references are "old," people are going to want to know why. You must also be sure you cover the most current research in your field.

Why is it important to use references that are under 5 years until the present?

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 is it important to use recent research?

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

Can you Reference Old Sources in Essays? (More than 10 Years Old?)

What is considered out of date research?

Many researchers and reviewers consider research that is more than 5 years old — or even 3 — to be outdated and irrelevant. I have noticed that more reviewers, in their comments on a manuscript, are writing “out-of-date reference list,” to refer to lists that contain publications dating back further than 5 years.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

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.

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How old is an outdated article?

For example, important articles in literature, art, and music often tend to be considered current for years, or even decades, after publication. Articles in the physical sciences, however, are usually considered outdated within a year or two (or even sooner) after publication.

How old can citations be?

And there are no limits on the age of sources. But just because you can cite anything as a source doesn't mean you should. Rather, APA recommends that sources be reliable, primary accounts that represent the most up-to-date information wherever possible.

Who is the youngest person to publish a research paper?

Emily Rosa (born February 6, 1987) is the youngest person to have a research paper published in a peer reviewed medical journal. At age nine Rosa conceived and executed a scientific study of therapeutic touch which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998.

What kind of sources should not be used in a research paper?

Usually inappropriate: magazines, blogs, and websites

These may include articles in popular magazines or postings in blogs, forums, and other websites. In general, although these sources may be well-written and easy to understand, their scientific value is often not as high as that of peer-reviewed articles.

What are the oldest research papers?

The first academic journal was Journal des sçavans (January 1665), followed soon after by Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (March 1665), and Mémoires de l'Académie des Sciences (1666). The first fully peer-reviewed journal was Medical Essays and Observations (1733).

Does it matter how old a reference is?

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.

Is it okay to copy paste as long as you cite?

It is ok to use other information to support your arguments as long as you quote, paraphrase or summarize properly and cite your sources. However, copying and pasting whole chunks of information is poor scholarship and does not reflect any learning or understanding on your part.

How often should I cite in a research paper?

There is no such thing as “over-citing,” so cite the original source as much as possible. You must cite the source every time you incorporate research, words, ideas, data, or information that is not your own (2).

Is 20 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'.

Does research have an expiry date?

Most research can be published even after many years. But if the research is out of date by then, the journal may not want it.

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.

What is considered old data?

There is no distinction in principle between 'old' data and 'new' data, and it is up to our community to remove now the artificial barriers that presently prevent the access that research requires simultaneously to all of its data.

Why is outdated research bad?

Reproducibility is a fundamental principle of scientific research. When researchers cannot replicate the findings from a study, it casts doubt on that study's validity. And when researchers use outdated tools, reproducing results is often more difficult.

What is the most popular research paper of all time?

The most-cited paper in history is a paper by Oliver Lowry describing an assay to measure the concentration of proteins. By 2014 it had accumulated more than 305,000 citations. The 10 most cited papers all had more than 40,000 citations.

What is the oldest writing ever discovered?

The earliest confirmed form of writing is recorded on a limestone tablet, known as the Kish tablet, which dates to around 3,500 BCE. The tablet was found on the site of an ancient Sumerian city called Kish, which is located in modern-day Iraq.

What is the oldest written word?

Oldest Confirmed Writing: The Kish Tablet

The Kish tablet is a limestone tablet from Ancient Mesopotamia. The tablet is a product of Sumeria in proto-cuneiform dating to approximately 3500 BCE. It originates from the Uruk Period which ended around the time that the Bronze Age started.

What are 3 commonly unreliable sources?