Grey Literature
"In general, grey literature publications are non-conventional, fugitive, and sometimes ephemeral publications. They may include, but are not limited to the following types of materials: reports (pre-prints, preliminary progress and advanced reports, technical reports, statistical reports, memoranda, state-of-the art reports, market research reports, etc.), theses, conference proceedings, technical specifications and standards, non-commercial translations, bibliographies, technical and commercial documentation, and official documents not published commercially (primarily government reports and documents) (Alberani, 1990)." --From greylit.org
Where to find it: Consider looking at white papers, policy statements, and more from the websites of government (CDC, HealthIT.gov, etc.) or professional organizations (AMIA, AHIMA, AMI, AOTA, APTA, etc.). Sometimes companies will publish grey literature in the form of white papers or market research.
Types of Grey Literature
GreyNet International 1992-2017 provides an in-depth list of types of grey literature.
Explanation of Grey Literature: Video from Western University
This video from Western University provides an overview of grey literature. Please contact the UIC library with questions.
Examples of Grey Literature
Evaluating Websites
Purdue OWL: Citing Electronic Resources in APA Style
- Reference List (Electronic Sources)Refer to print APA Publication Manual for more detailed instructions (available in Daley Library IDEA Commons)
Search for Grey Literature
- Policy CommonsPolicy Commons provides almost 2.5 million fulltext think-tank, agency, and city publications, including policy reports, administrative documents, books, project and campaign documents, working papers and discussion papers, journal articles, press releases, briefs, and brochures.
- USA.govUSA.gov is the official web portal to all federal, sate and local government web resources and services.
- National Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education.
- Googleto find grey literature, try keywords such as report, "think tank," "white paper," policy, statistics, or limiting by domain to (.org, .edu, .gov)
- Google Scholar
Searches for scholarly materials such as peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports from broad areas of research. It includes a variety of academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories and universities, as well as scholarly articles available across the web.
Policy Briefs
Guidance and examples for writing policy briefs.
- How to Write a Policy BriefProvides useful definitions, parameters and questions to think about when writing a policy brief. By International Development Research Centre.
- NEA Policy BriefsFind more examples of policy briefs sponsored by the NEA
Education Policy Grey Literature Sources
- American Institutes for Research (AIR)AIR is one of the world's largest behavioral and social science research and evaluation organizations.
- California Collaborative on District Reformjoins researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and funders in ongoing, evidence-based dialogue and collective action to improve outcomes for all students in California’s urban school systems, with particular attention to equity and access for traditionally under-served students in the state.
- Civil Rights Project at UCLAIts mission is to create a new generation of research in social science and law, on the critical issues of civil rights and equal opportunity for racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
- Colorin ColoradoA blingual site for educators and families of English Language Learners
- Consortium for Policy Research in EducationThe Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE) brings together education experts from renowned research institutions to contribute new knowledge that informs PK-20 education policy and practice. Our work is peer-reviewed and open-access.
- Educational Policy InstituteThe Educational Policy Institute is an international organization dedicated to the study of educational opportunity and is a collective association of researchers and policy analysts from around the world dedicated to the mission of enhancing our knowledge of critical barriers facing students and families throughout the educational pipeline
- Education Development CenterEDC designs, implements, and evaluates programs to improve education, health, and economic opportunity worldwide.
- Illinois P-20 CouncilThe Illinois P-20 Council was established by the legislature in 2009 to foster collaboration among state agencies, education institutions, local schools, community groups, employers, taxpayers, and families, and to collectively identify needed reforms to develop a seamless and sustainable statewide system of quality education and support
- Institute for Policy Research (Northwestern University)The Institute for Policy Research (IPR) is an interdisciplinary public policy research institute founded in 1968 at Northwestern University. Our mission is to stimulate and support excellent social science research on significant public policy issues and to disseminate the findings widely—to students, scholars, policymakers, and the public
- Latino Policy ForumThe Latino Policy Forum is the only organization in the Chicago area that facilitates the involvement of Latinos at all levels of public decision-making. The Latino Policy Forum conducts analysis to inform, influence, and lead. Its goals are to improve education outcomes, advocate for affordable housing, promote just immigration policies, and engage diverse sectors of the community, with an understanding that advancing Latinos advances a shared future.
- Migration Policy InstituteThe Migration Policy Institute is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank in Washington, DC dedicated to analysis of the movement of people worldwide.
- UnidosUSSince 1968, Unidos US (formerly the National Council of La Raza) has remained a trusted, nonpartisan voice for Latinos. This is the community we serve through our research, policy analysis, and state and national advocacy efforts, as well as in our programs work in communities nationwide.
- National Education AssociationThe National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs
- National Education Policy CenterThe mission of the National Education Policy Center is to produce and disseminate high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. We are guided by the belief that the democratic governance of public education is strengthened when policies are based on sound evidence
- National Institute for Early Education ResearchThe National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) conducts and communicates research to support high-quality, effective early childhood education for all young children
- Policy Analysis for California EducationPolicy Analysis for California Education (PACE) is an independent, non-partisan research center based at Stanford University, the University of Southern California, and the University of California – Davis. PACE seeks to define and sustain a long-term strategy for comprehensive policy reform and continuous improvement in performance at all levels of California’s education system, from early childhood to postsecondary education and training
- Shanker InstituteThe Albert Shanker Institute pursues the mission of improving the public education system by promoting discussions, supporting publications and sponsoring research on new and workable approaches to ensuring that all public schools are good schools.
- Stanford Center for Education Policy AnalysisThe Stanford Center for Education Policy Analysis (CEPA) is a research center created in 2009 to unite an interdisciplinary array of nationally prominent scholars from across the campus to provide the depth and scale of research needed to affect education practice and policy in meaningful ways.
- Understanding LanguageUnderstanding Language aims to heighten educator awareness of the critical role that language plays in the new Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.
- Urban Education InstituteThe mission of the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute (UEI) is to create knowledge to produce reliably excellent urban schooling.
- Urban InstituteUrban's mission is to open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions through economic and social policy research.
- WestEdA nonpartisan, nonprofit research, development, and service agency working with education and other communities throughout the United States and abroad, WestEd aims to improve education and other important outcomes for children, youth and adults.