Table of Contents
Searching the Scholarly Literature
How to Search for Public Health Resources
Where to Search for Public Health Resources
Finding Textbooks and Other References
Finding Health Data and Statistics
Evaluating Evidence in Public Health
General Guidance on Evaluating Information
The Gray Literature: What is it and how do I search it?
What is gray literature? Gray literature is defined by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions as "...literature that is not formally published in sources such as books or journal articles." This can include information such as government reports, conference proceedings, graduate dissertations, unpublished clinical trials, and much more.
Why search the gray literature if it hasn't been peer-reviewed? There is a strong bias in scientific publishing toward publishing studies that show some sort of significant effect. Meanwhile, many studies and trials that show no effect end up going unpublished. But knowing that an intervention had no effect is just as important as knowing that it did have an effect when it comes to making decisions for practice and policy-making. Thus, the grey literature can be critical.
How do I search the gray literature if it's unpublished and not in the scholarly databases? Its true--finding gray literature and searching it systematically is challenging. But there are a few approaches that you can take to add some structure to your search of this type of information:
- Identify and record the sources you will search, including some indication of search terms used if appropriate. The sources you search will be informed by your research question and where you expect to find information related to your question.
- Try searching databases that specialize in gray literature like OpenGrey.
- Conference proceedings: Identify professional organizations that have conferences at which researchers might be presenting work related to your topic. Search those conference proceedings on the organization's website or by contacting organizational boards for access to past proceedings that may not be online.
- Theses and dissertations: There are a number of databases dedicated to theses and dissertations, which you can search using your search terms. .
- Identify government agencies, and international and non-governmental organizations, that might publish technical papers and reports on your topic. Search their websites or any online libraries that they may provide. For example, the WHO has a number of searchable online collections and the World Bank now makes all of their publications openly available online.
- Contact known researchers in the field to determine if there are any ongoing or unpublished studies that s/he may be aware of.
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Guidance Documents for Gray Literature Searching
- Grey Matters: A practical search tool for evidence-based medicineThis online manual provides a thorough list of sources for gray literature in medicine and a helpful checklist to help systematize your process.
- Googling the Greys: Tips for Searching Beyond Health Databases and Turning Information into InsightsThis presentation by Sarah Bonato, a health science librarian at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, ON, provides an excellent guide to searching Google effectively to find gray literature.
- Duke University Medical Center Guide to Resource for Searching the Gray LiteratureA more thorough guide to gray literature, including resources for trial registries, pharmacological studies, conference abstracts, government document and more.
Databases of Gray Literature
- NY Academy of Medicine Grey Literature ReportThis report is a bimonthly publication of The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) alerting readers to new grey literature publications in health services research and selected public health topics. The database platform is keyword searchable and serves as an archive for the cataloged reports.
- OpenGrey: System for Information on Grey Literature in EuropeThe System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe, is an open access database to 700.000 bibliographical references of grey literature produced in Europe and allows you to export records and locate the documents in many research disciplines.
- GreyNetThe Grey Literature Network Service was founded in 1992. The goal of GreyNet is to facilitate dialog, research, and communication between persons and organisations in the field of grey literature. GreyNet further seeks to identify and distribute information on and about grey literature in networked environments.
Sources for Searching Theses and Dissertations
- ProQuest Dissertations and ThesesWith more than 2 million entries, PQD&T is the single, central, authoritative resource for information about doctoral dissertations and master's theses.
- Guide to Theses and Dissertations ResourcesThis guide provides information on finding and accessing both Cornell and non-Cornell theses and dissertations, including many resources for non-US literature.