Evaluate Grey Literature

The quality of grey literature can vary greatly; therefore, evaluation and appraisal should be undertaken when using grey literature sources.

The appraisal criteria include:

• Authority - identifying the authorship and the responsibilities of intellectual content
• Accuracy - considering the originality, methodology, validity and reliability, analysis, unbiased interpretation and peer review
• Coverage - Limits are identifiable
• Objectivity - It is important to identify bias
• Date - For the item to inform your research, it needs to have a date that confirms relevance
• Significance - This is a value judgment of the item, in the context of the relevant research area

The AACODS Checkist, developed by Jess Tyndal at Flinders University, is a useful tool for appraising grey literature. 

Another appraisal test you can use is the CRAAP test.  Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose (CRAAP) test helps you to evaluate non-academic sources of evidence, such as a webpage. First developed  Blakeslee, S. (2004). The CRAAP test. LOEX Quarterly, 31(3), Article 4. https://commons.emich.edu/loexquarterly/vol31/iss3/4

Evaluate Agency and Organisation Websites

• Be cautious when you evaluate websites.

Grey literature is often found on the websites of government agencies, universities or non-profit organisations. It is often recommended to check the domains, e.g. .gov .org or .edu. However, domains can be shared by others. For examples,

• The .org domain is not only used by a non-profit organisation. It can be used by a government agency.
  
  
• The .edu may be used by a personal student or faculty, rather than official university webpages.