InfoGuides: Evaluating Peacebuilding Projects: Find Grey Literature

Searching Grey Literature Databases

Grey literature is research of a scholarly nature produced by specialists with expert opinions, but not published through traditional presses (journals, books, etc). Grey literature include think tank reports, conference proceedings, and government reports. It is particularly helpful when conducting research on recent events.

Find Policy
Select the appropriate policy area (or go into "More Search" for more options) to search for reports from leading think tanks.
American Policy Directory
Locate analysis and advocacy reports using custom google searches in specific topic areas. Primary focus is US national policy, but international topics can be searched with some success. From the University of Oregon.
Harvard Kennedy School Think Tank Search
A custom Google search of more than 480 think tank websites allowing you to do a broad search on your topic to find analysis by leading think tanks.

Digital National Security Archive This link opens in a new window
Locate declassified government documents on US policy toward critical world events (military, intelligence, diplomatic and human rights dimensions) from 1945-present.
Homeland Security Digital Library This link opens in a new window
Search for presidential directives, US policy and national strategy documents, and analysis by think tanks, state agencies, international organizations, and research institutes.
Policy File Index This link opens in a new window
Access domestic and foreign public policy research and analytical papers on governmental and legal topics, representing the work of think tanks, research groups, and academic institutes from 1990 to present.

Strategies for Finding Grey Literature

Before you start first consider what types of organizations conduct research on your topic. If you aren't sure - or a number of organizations might investigate your topic - then using grey literature databases are a helpful alterative.

Use broad language to locate grey literature. When searching databases like Proquest you narrow and focus your search to limit your results. You do the opposite for grey literature searches.

Evaluating Grey Literature

Grey literature should be evaluated using the same standards as traditionally published materials. The following evaluation checklist was specifically created for grey literature to help judge the quality of the material.

Authority
Accuracy
Coverage
Objectivity
Date
Significance

A printable checklist is available for download at http://dspace.flinders.edu.au/jspui/bitstream/2328/3326/4/AACODS_Checklist.pdf