Research: A Step-by-Step Guide

"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." (Fourth International Conference on Grey Literature, Washington, DC, October, 1999)

Grey literature includes:

• Theses and dissertations
• Conference papers and proceedings
• Research reports
• Government documents

Conference papers and proceedings can be very difficult to find because they:

• Can be published in different ways - as books, journal articles, abstracts
• Take several years to be published or may not be published at all
• May be deposited in an author or institutional repository

Government documents are an important primary source of information on a wide range of issues. Check our Government Information Subject Guide for more information.

Research reports contain the results of research projects, investigations, and surveys, and are usually published by the funder or the body undertaking the research.

They can be found by searching the websites of subject associations and research organizations, in addition to the library catalog and databases.

• American Educational Research Association (AERA)
  The AERA is concerned with improving the educational process by encouraging scholarly inquiry related to education, and by promoting the dissemination and practical application of research results. Its website provides access to reports on research undertaken.
• Conference Board of Canada (CBoC)
  CBoC is a not-for-profit organization specializaing in conducting, publishing and disseminating research in economic trends, as well as organizational performance and public policy issues.
• British Educational Research Association (BERA)
  The BERA is a learned society for researchers engaged in a wide range of educational research. Issues of its newsletter, "Research Intelligence," and its Reviews - "Academic Reviews" and Professional User Reviews" - are available on its website free of charge.
  National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER)
  NFER is the largest independent educational research institution in Europe. Many of its publications are available as free downloads. The NFER Library publishes a free monthly web-based current awareness service, which highlights recent reports, publications, and useful documents from prominent UK and international educational research-related websites that are available to download or view without payment.