Grey literature

Grey literature is as equally valuable as published studies, however it can be complicated and time consuming to search for.

Do I need to search Grey Literature?

Considerations:

Grey literature is particularly important for searching for new and emerging literature.  It reduces the impact of publication bias.

Types of grey literature and places to search are led by the research question.  eg RCTs can be found in theses and trial registries. Policy documents on government websites.

Where to search



Considerations:

Knowing where to search for grey literature is led by your research question.

Start by taking a look at the key organisations in the field, key conferences etc.

How to search


Considerations:

Searching for grey literature can never be truly 'systematic'.  Therefore it is important to fully document everything you do.