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Criminology & Policing

Grey Literature

Grey literature refers to materials and research produced outside of traditional academic or commercial publishing channels. It's not found in regular bookstores or academic journals. Think of it as the "unpublished" world of information.

Why is Grey Literature Useful for Your Studies?

  • Unique Insights: Grey literature often provides unique perspectives and insights you won't find in academic sources. It can include firsthand accounts, policy documents, community reports, and more.
  • Real-World Data: For policing and criminology students, grey literature offers valuable real-world data, such as statistics from police forces, crime prevention reports, or evaluations of interventions.
  • Up-to-Date Information: Grey literature is often more current than academic publications, reflecting the latest developments in the field.
  • Alternative Perspectives: It can challenge mainstream views and offer alternative viewpoints, enriching your understanding of complex issues.
Feature Grey Literature Academic Sources (Books, Journal Articles)
Publication process Informal, non-commercial channels Rigorous peer-review
Availability Can be harder to find, often through specialised sources Widely available in libraries and online databases
Authors Varied: government agencies, NGOs, think-tanks, individuals Primarily academics and researchers
Purpose Diverse: inform, advocate, document Disseminate scholarly research, contribute to knowledge

 

Types of Grey Literature You Might Encounter:

  • Government Reports: Produced by police forces, government departments, or agencies like the Home Office.
  • Think Tank Reports: Research and analysis from organisations focused on specific policy areas.
  • NGO Reports: Information and advocacy from organisations working in the field of crime and justice.
  • Conference Proceedings: Summaries of presentations given at conferences, often containing cutting-edge research.
  • Working Papers: Preliminary research findings before formal publication.
  • Dissertations and Theses: In-depth research by postgraduate students, often containing original research.
  • White Papers: Policy documents outlining potential solutions to problems.
  • Case Studies: Detailed examinations of specific events or situations.
  • Statistics and Data Sets: Raw data or compiled statistics on crime, policing, or justice.

For a more detailed list of different types of grey literature, vist this link at GreyNet.org

Where to Find Grey Literature:

Google:

In addition to using Google to find sources of grey literature, you can also use the Advanced Search to search within particular sites or domains as well. This is often more effective than using the site's own search engine, plus you can specify types of files (i.e. most reports and publications will be .PDF files) and date updated.

To search within a particular website using Google Advanced Search, put the domain URL in the 'site or domain' field - for example, .gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office. This will search just within the Home Office. Using .howardleague.org will just search within the website of the Howard League for Penal Reform.

(If you're not sure which part of the URL to use, basically take everything after the www, including the full stop.)

 

Custom Google Searches:

A number of custom Google searches have been helpfully set up by other librarians and/or librarians.

Custom Google Search: