Physiotherapy and sports and exercise science

What is grey literature?

Grey literature is a term for information resources that are not published in traditional, formal scholarly sources and therefore may not be found when searching scholarly databases or standard search engines. 

A widely accepted definition of grey literature is

"information produced on all levels of government, academics, business and industry in electronic and print formats not controlled by commercial publishing, i.e. where publishing is not the primary activity of the producing body"

                                                   - International Conference on Grey Literature Luxembourg definition, 1997. Expanded in New York, 2004.

Grey literature can be produced by both public and private organisations, professional or government bodies, or individuals and may not go through peer review or editorial processes. Although it can be a valuable source of information for researchers and students, it can be highly variable in quality so it is important to critically evaluate its quality, currency, and reliability. 

Examples of grey literature include:

GreyNet International has a more comprehensive list of the different types of grey literature. 

Watch this short video to learn more about grey literature (YouTube, 2m 39s).

"Grey literature tutorial" by Western Universities, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Original video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9-0ZYnCmAI&list=PLBC826C3769B18E1F&index=12

Grey literature can be a useful source of information because:

• it often includes information that may not be found when searching traditional scholarly sources 
• it is often produced more quickly than academic publications, so you may be able to access and use new information or emerging research 
• it can provide useful information on policies and programs, including local information
• it can be a good source of raw data or first-hand reports (e.g. research data, diaries)
• it can help to minimise reporting or publication bias (i.e. the idea that studies with positive or statistically significant results may be more likely to be published than those that report negative or non-significant results).

How can searching the grey literature help you with your assignments?

• it can help to fill research or information gaps and ensure your search is as complete as possible
• it can introduce different perspectives or experiences
• it can help to identify or offset potential publication bias
• it can provide more detailed or local information.