Gray literature consists of high-quality research, reports, and other materials produced by governments, academics, businesses, and industry that are not controlled by commercial publishers. Examples include government documents, white papers, technical reports, conference proceedings, and dissertations, and it’s a valuable source for up-to-date research not yet formally published. However, because it often isn’t peer-reviewed and isn’t well-represented in standard databases, critical evaluation of gray literature is especially important to assess its quality and potential biases.
| Feature | Academic Literature | Gray Literature |
|---|---|---|
| Peer Review | Rigorous evaluation by experts in the field before publication. | Generally not peer-reviewed; review processes, if any, are internal. |
| Authorship | Authored by scholars, researchers, and academics. | Authored by government agencies, non-profits, corporations, and individuals. |
| Publication | Published in scholarly journals, academic books, and conference proceedings. | Distributed as reports, white papers, government documents, theses, and newsletters. |
| Audience | Primarily intended for other academics, researchers, and students. | Can be intended for the general public, policymakers, or specific professional groups. |
| Objectivity | Aims for objectivity, with claims supported by evidence and rigorous methodology. | Can be objective, but may also reflect the specific agenda or viewpoint of the issuing organization. |
| Ref: https://gemini.google.com/app/ae972525b29c7cf2 |