When is Grey Literature Useful?

Grey literature can be used to supplement traditionally published material and ensure you are considering all sides of a topic in your research. Publishing companies are businesses which makes them unlikely to publish material they believe to be unprofitable. Grey literature can help fill this gap in your research that can be caused by:

• Publication Bias: Studies or clinical trials with null or negative results are less likely to be published but knowing what doesn’t work is just as important as knowing what does. 
• Niche Topics: Uncommon or narrow fields of study may not have much traditionally published research. 
• Current Information: Peer review can be a long process so grey literature, which does not undergo this process, will often have the most up to date information. Some fields where timely information is important, like disaster management, may even prefer the grey literature route.

IT and Library Services at the University of Kent

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