How do I identify cited material older than its agreed useful life?
Use the original observation date and the intended publication date. A source is due the day after its stated validity window.
Open Evidence Shelf LifeTry the worked example
These are the example inputs from Evidence Shelf Life. Replace them in the tool to run your own case.
| Reference | Observed | Publish date | Valid days |
|---|---|---|---|
| R12 | 2026-07-01 | 2026-11-01 | 90 |
| R15 | 2026-10-01 | 2026-11-01 | 60 |
Example result
1 reference needs refresh
Who uses this?
Research evidence owner. The free online tool runs the calculation in your browser. To edit the files and use the tools offline in one business, see the €49 offline edition.
Where the idea came from
Identify cited material older than its agreed useful life. The reviewed example retrieves useful information from an approved knowledge base. Benchcraft designed this tool’s inputs, decision rule and example for this office task.
Original video