Source quality
The authority, relevance, currency, independence, and directness of evidence for a claim.
Definition
The authority, relevance, currency, independence, and directness of evidence for a claim.
Practical test
Is the source authoritative for this claim, direct, relevant, current enough, independent where needed, and scoped to the right jurisdiction and product?
Example
A recent blog summarizing a regulator may be less direct than the regulator’s actual guidance, even when both reach the same conclusion.
What to record
For source quality to be operational rather than a reassuring label, record publisher authority, source type, scope, jurisdiction, dates, conflicts, and reviewer judgment. If those facts cannot be observed or tested, do not treat the term itself as evidence that the workflow is safe.