When a search is complete, i.e. once we have retrieved the information from the sources consulted, we need to assess the information obtained basically by following the three premises set out in the title of this sub-section: relevance, quality and reliability. In other words, we need to check whether the data or information that we have retrieved is useful or relevant depending on our information needs and whether it meets minimum quality and reliability standards, in short, whether the origin and authorship are reliable.
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However, when assessing the search results, and with regard to the quality of the information obtained, we might encounter two basic problems: document silence or document noise.
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We talk of silence in a search when we do not retrieve all the relevant documents, i.e. when we have obtained fewer results than we could have. In this case, the search is incomplete. We need to consider whether the search strategy used is correct and whether the resources consulted are the most appropriate.
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We talk of noise in a search when we do not manage to eliminate non-relevant documents from the results, i.e. when we have obtained more results than we ought to. In this case, we need to filter the results to reduce their number and eliminate document noise. This can be achieved, for example, by expanding the number of search terms, using more precise terms and using operators.
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In any event, when assessing the information obtained through a search process, as we have mentioned above, we need to remember that accredited, top-flight scientific documents that are hugely relevant to the research co-exist on the internet with pseudo-science and documents of very little or no informative value and which are not particularly well scrutinised. Consequently, we need to bear in mind that although it is very true that the internet provides free access to a whole wealth of documents, it is also true to a certain extent that the most valuable information in scientific terms is still not free to access and requires payment. This is what is known as the invisible web, which includes databases or scientific journals, which are essential to keep up-to-date with the advances made in the different fields of knowledge.
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