Evaluating Grey Literature
All sources of literature should be evaluated and appraised. This is especially so with Grey Literature given the variability of sources and the nature of its authorship. Grey literature sources may bypass the traditional peer review process and as a result the quality may vary greatly.
When evaluating grey literature, consider the following criteria:
| Authority |
Who is the author/source? What are their qualifications? Do they have any expertise in the area? |
| Objectivity |
Is there bias? How are the claims justified? Is the purpose to promote a product/service? |
| Intended Audience |
Who is the material aimed at? Is it for the general public or the scientific community? Is it suitable for academic rigour? |
| Accuracy |
Are the facts/figures, dates cited, and quality of evidence reliable and valid? Is the information cited and references included? |
| Currency |
How up to date is the information? When was it created? Is there more recent information available? |
Evaluation Tools
AACODS Checklist
Developed by Flinders University, the AACODS Checklist is a useful tool for appraising grey literature.
