Searching for grey literature is crucial because it includes valuable research not found in traditional scholarly literature, such as conference presentations, theses, dissertations, and studies by non-academic entities. This type of literature is emphasized in Cochrane and Campbell guidelines and is particularly important in certain disciplines like economics and medicine. Grey literature helps mitigate biases in publishing, as peer-reviewed journals often favor statistically significant findings and underrepresent non-white or non-Western research. Including grey literature ensures a more comprehensive and less biased review.
Want to know more about searching for grey literature for Evidence Synthesis projects (Scoping Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Meta Analysis, etc)? OLI Torus has a great module which explains things to consider.
