Quality assure

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Once you have retrieved your information, you must assess its value and reliability.

Finding and evaluating information online

Before using any information that we find, it is essential that we critically evaluate it.

When you have found information of interest, it can help to ask yourself the following:

  • Who is the author? Is the person or organisation reliable or a subject expert?
  • Is the information relevant to your needs?
  • Is the information accurate and up-to-date, or has it been superceded?
  • Is the information objective or is it biased in any way? e.g. Are there any conflicts of interest?

More detailed guidance on assessing the quality of information sources can be found in the Find, use and share knowledge section or in the Search Tips interactive guide produced by Knowledge Services at NHS Education for Scotland (NES).