What is Grey Literature?
Answer
Grey literature refers to information created outside traditional commercial or academic publishing channels. Unlike conventional publications, it is not typically subject to formal peer review or widely indexed in databases. This lack of traditional constraints allows grey literature to bypass lengthy publishing processes, often providing more up-to-date information than scholarly journals. Despite its unconventional nature, grey literature is a valuable resource, especially in fields such as healthcare, public policy, and environmental studies.
Examples of grey literature include:
- Government reports
- White papers
- Conference proceedings
- Technical reports
- Dissertations and theses
- Policy briefs
- Preprints
- Institutional research papers
- Newsletters
- Informally published works, such as blog posts or community publications
Grey literature is often used for its timeliness and coverage of emerging or niche topics that may not yet appear in peer-reviewed sources. However, it’s important to critically evaluate its credibility, accuracy, and potential biases before use in academic or professional work.