Research Guides
Literature review toolkit for policy studies: Grey literature
What is grey literature?
Grey literature are publications from research centers, think tanks, government agencies, advocacy groups, professional associations, or other organizations. It falls outside of the "traditional" publishing channels that we often find in academia. They are often not widely disseminated and aren't often indexed by traditional academic search tools, so can be hard to discover.
Tips for tracking down grey literature:
- In your reading, keep your eyes open for organizations or people who are mentioned in relation to your topic. Tracking them down could lead you to their publications.
- Include one of the following terms, in quotes, as part of your internet search: "white paper", "policy memo", "policy brief", "working paper".
Starting points
- Policy Commons
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Repository of research from research centers, NGOs, IGOs, and more. - Issue LabRepository for research and reports in the social sector.
- Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC)Practical background and guidance on a wide range of city and county governmental issues.
- Non-governmental organizations searchCustom search engine that searches across a wide variety of NGO websites.
- Intergovernmental organizations search engineCustom search engine that searches across a wide variety of IGO websites.
Think tanks
Think tanks and research centers can be excellent sources for current policy research. See these tools for identifying think tanks in your policy area:
- American Policy DirectoryThink tanks and advocacy organizations by topic area.
- Think tank searchCustom search engine of 700+ think tanks
Government professional associations
Professional associations for government workers can be great resources on current issues and best practices. See also associations for specific roles/professions, such as finance, HR, CIOs, energy officials, etc. Below are just a few examples:
Evaluations & analyses
- Performance ReportsReports and data on the effectiveness and efficiency of government programs; from the Office of the WA State Auditor.
- Social Programs That WorkProgram evaluations across many areas of social policy, including education, housing, health, and more.
- Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee (JLARC)Performance audits of WA state government policies and programs.
- Washington State Institute for Public PolicyNon-partisan research at the direction of the Washington State Legislature or Board of Directors.