Grey literature refers to a category of information that is produced outside of traditional commercial publishing and distribution channels. It includes a wide variety of documents that are not typically indexed by major databases or included in the normal market channels. Some key characteristics of grey literature include being non-commercial, diverse in format, having limited distribution, and varying in quality. Examples of grey literature include reports, theses, conference proceedings, white papers, and government documents.
Grey literature was defined as “that which is produced on all levels of government, academics, business, and industry in print and electronic formats, but which is not controlled by commercial publishers” at the Fourth International Conference on Grey Literature (GL ’99), held in October 1999 in Washington, DC.
Characteristics of Grey Literature:
1. Non-commercial: Often produced by organizations for internal use.
2. Diverse Formats: Includes reports, theses, conference proceedings, white papers, government documents, etc.
3. Limited Distribution: Usually distributed through non-traditional channels.
4. Varying Quality: Quality and reliability can vary widely.
Types of Grey Literature:
News:
Since news articles offer relevant information and perspectives outside of the conventional academic publishing channels, they can be categorized as grey literature. They frequently discuss recent developments and topics that have not been covered in peer-reviewed publications yet. Users must carefully assess news sources because their dependability and quality can differ.
Official Publication:
Official publications, like policy papers and government reports, are produced by public authorities for particular audiences and purposes, frequently eschewing commercial publication channels. This makes them a type of grey literature. Although these documents may not be widely available or easily accessed, they can offer reliable information and insights.
Theses and dissertations:
Theses and dissertations are scholarly works that students turn in to fulfill degree requirements.
Clinical Trials:
Since clinical trial results and reports are usually shared through institutional repositories, registries, or conference presentations rather than traditional academic journals, they can be considered grey literature materials. For the purpose of providing thorough information on trial outcomes, including unfavorable or equivocal findings that might not be published elsewhere, this kind of grey literature is essential.
Health Reports and Policy:
Since health organizations, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations regularly produce health reports and policy documents for specific policy-making and informational purposes, they are regarded as grey literature. These documents, which are frequently distributed outside of conventional commercial publishing channels, provide insightful analysis and data on public health issues.
Census Data:
Since government agencies, usually outside the commercial publishing industry, produce and distribute census data, it is considered a type of grey literature. Although frequently absent from conventional academic publications, this data offers vital demographic, social, and economic information that is critical for research and policy-making.
Dataset:
As raw data for analysis and research, datasets are regarded as grey literature because they are frequently shared through government databases, research groups, or institutional repositories as opposed to traditional publishing platforms.
Reports:
Written by corporations, NGOs, government agencies, and research institutions. Project reports, annual reports, and technical reports are a few examples.
Market Research:
Market research reports are categorized as grey literature because, as opposed to being published through conventional academic channels, they are usually created by private businesses or industry associations for internal use or restricted distribution.
Patent:
Since patents are technical documents that detail new inventions and innovations and are typically not published through traditional academic publishing avenues, they are classified as grey literature. Patents are submitted to and published by patent offices.
Standards and Guidelines
Though they are frequently published outside of the purview of traditional academic publishing, standards and guidelines are regarded as grey literature because they are created and disseminated by regulatory agencies, professional associations, and other organizations to define best practices and technical specifications.
Social Media Posts
Social media posts can be categorized as grey literature since they provide timely, often informal information and insights that are disseminated outside traditional publishing channels and are not typically archived in academic databases.
Tools of Grey Literature:
Academic databases
Academic databases, which index and make accessible non-traditional documents like conference papers, theses, technical reports, and working papers, can be useful resources for finding grey literature sources.
Library catalogues:
Library catalogs index and make non-traditional documents like government reports, conference proceedings, technical reports, and other unpublished materials accessible, making them useful tools for locating sources of grey literature.
Online repositories:
Online repositories host and make available a variety of non-traditional documents, including theses, dissertations, technical reports, conference papers, and other forms of unpublished research materials, which can be used as tools for locating sources of grey literature.
Organizational websites:
Organizational websites host and distribute internal reports, white papers, project documentation, and other non-traditional materials created by the organization, making them useful resources for locating sources of grey literature.
Internet search engines:
This is the most inclusive category and will lead you to all types of grey literature, but it can be especially helpful for finding items that you might not find through other channels, such as blogs, Twitter, wikis, presentations, email lists, etc.
Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers can benefit greatly from the insights and information provided by grey literature, which is often unavailable through traditional publication channels.
