Introduction to grey literature from Western University
Why is grey literature important?
Grey literature reduces publication bias – where studies with significant results are overrepresented in scholarly publications – by providing a broader perspective. For this reason it is particularly important to consider grey literature when
- Developing or reviewing a clinical guideline
- Conducting a systematic review or meta-analysis
Grey literature can be a good source of raw data expanding on the primary information available for your research.
Grey literature is useful for locating the latest information from industry and government sources. It can be published more quickly than other information sources as it is not usually subject to peer-review processes.
GreyNet is a grey literature database. Grey Guide is a repository and portal to good practices and resources in grey literature.
More on grey literature searching
Useful resources