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- Finding information not found in traditional sources
- Countering publication biases found in academic journals
- Including more diverse perspectives in your research
- Creating a more comprehensive view of the research literature
- Including the most recent research and avoiding the time gap between research and publishing
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Searching the Grey Literature: A Handbook for Searching Reports, Working Papers, and Other Unpublished Research
by
Although a wide range of different types of librarians or information professionals may find the content of this book useful, those working in the areas of health or social science will benefit the most from the book's content. Searching the Grey Literature discuss different aspects of grey literature, including an introduction to grey literature, the value of grey literature, search sources for grey literature and how to conduct needs assessment before beginning a grey literature search. Search techniques for identifying grey literature documents, selecting and evaluating grey literature search sources and best searching practices are also discussed in detail.
ISBN: 9781538100646Publication Date: 2018 - Preprints
- Reports and white papers
- Conference proceedings
- Dissertations and theses
- Clinical trial registrations
- Policy documents
- Government publications
- Academic databases - some academic databases, such as Scopus and CINAHL, include types of grey literature like conference proceedings and dissertations
- Preprint servers - There are dedicated preprint websites for many disciplines, as well as multidisciplinary preprint servers. Ask a librarian for help identifying the most relevant preprint server(s) for your project. For example, MedRxiv is the go-to preprint server for health sciences research.
- Clinical trial registries - Clinical trial registries such as ClinicalTrials.gov are great sources of research that is still in its early phases or has just recently completed
- Dissertation/theses databases - Dedicated dissertation/thesis databases can help you identify work that doesn't always end up in academic journals
- Government information - Searching or browsing the websites of government agencies relevant to your research topic can be a great way to find reports, white papers, and statistics
- Nonprofits and organizations - There are many nonprofits, think tanks, and independent research organizations that produce high-quality reports and white papers
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medRxivmedRxiv (pronounced "med-archive") is a free online archive and distribution server for complete but unpublished manuscripts (preprints) in the medical, clinical, and related health sciences.
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Clinical Trials (ClinicalTrials.gov)A registry and results database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants conducted around the world.
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OpenDissertationsAn open-access database of both historic and contemporary dissertations and theses.
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HealthData | U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesFind data on a wide range of topics, including environmental health, medical devices, Medicare & Medicaid, social services, community health, mental health, and substance abuse. The data is collected and supplied from agencies from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as state partners. This includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, among others.
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Harvard Catalyst Policy AtlasA comprehensive database of policy and public health data for researchers, policymakers, and community advocates.
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OpenDOAR | JiscOpenDOAR is the quality-assured, global Directory of Open Access Repositories. We host repositories that provide free, open access to academic outputs and resources.
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OpenGreyNo longer updated. The System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe used to give open access to 700.000 bibliographical references of grey literature (paper) produced in Europe and allowed to export records and locate the documents.
Research 101: The Health Sciences
Breakdown the research process and terminology and familiarize yourself with available resources, services, and tools to aid in health sciences research.
What Is Grey Literature?
Grey literature is an umbrella term for research literature that is not published through traditional means and often excluded from traditional academic databases. Grey literature is often produced by government agencies, corporate industries, academics, or nonprofit organizations. Grey literature is usually not controlled by commercial publishers, and is typically not peer reviewed.
In short, grey literature refers to the wide range of research literature that falls outside of the traditional, peer-reviewed, academic journal article.
Why Use Grey Literature?
Grey literature can be valuable in all kinds of research projects, including all types of literature reviews. As grey literature falls outside the traditional norms of publishing, it has unique value. The benefits of using grey literature include:
Types of Grey Literature
Grey literature spans a wide range of document types, including:
Grey Literature Sources
Grey literature can be hard to find, but there are some go-to resources you can consider when searching for grey literature. We highly recommend asking a librarian for help finding grey literature. You can find grey literature in: