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Educational Innovation: Looking at Grey Literature

This guide gives an introduction to Reese Library and library research for students in the Doctor of Education in Educational Innovation program.

Introduction to Grey Literature

A lot of information produced for educational purposes is considered "grey literature." But what is grey literature?

The Conference on Grey Literature (1999) states grey literature is "That which is produced on all levels of government, academics, business and industry in print and electronic formats, but which is not controlled by commercial publishers." In other words, grey literature is all the "stuff" that is out there not published in a book or journal. Some examples:

  • white papers
  • government or association reports
  • internal handbooks or manuals
  • fact sheets
  • data sheets
  • research reports not published in a journal
  • position papers

Grey literature is a great resource because it often gives insight into a particular topic from a particular point of view. It is also where new ideas often first appear. For example, this white paper published by the California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington Science Teachers Associations give more information and recommendations for aligning materials with the Next Generation Science Standards.

Where do I find grey literature?

Most grey literature exists on the open web, you just have to know where to look:

Google Search:

You can do Google search to help find grey literature, but it is recommended to use advanced search features for Google.

  • Use the "site: ____" limiter in the search. Most grey literature is produced by government agencies, nonprofits, universities, and professional organizations. These will usually use the domains ".gov," ".org," and ".edu." You can limit your Google search by entering "site:.org"
  • Include quotation marks. This tells Google you only want the exact word or phrase you have entered. For example, "curriculum intervention"
  • Use the "file:____" limiter. Most grey literature is in the form of a PDF, so limiting to this can be helpful.

screenshot of a google search with "site:.org file:.pdf "curriculum intervention"

 

Government Websites:

Government websites are the best way to find grey literature as they produce more than anyone else! 

Other sources:

Here are a few more useful resources for grey literature.