Reviewing the current literature surrounding your research topic is an important part of any research project. You prefer not to have to reinvent the wheel, but nor do you want to start without any feeling for your research context.

I cannot start to imagine how literature searches must have been without online databases. However, accessible databases, logging in from home or wherever you are, have simplified the task. This is particularly the case for (peer-reviewed) articles published in journals. Whether it is specific or general, national or international, published material is easily accessible through electronic databases.

The range of information does not stop there. These databases are only one source and the internet contains a wide range of data. Filters in search engines can make it less daunting to navigate the sheer volume of information, but it does not necessarily help with evaluating the ‘value’ or ‘quality’ of the hits. When looking into carefully chosen electronic databases, one can be assured that the articles are likely to be of a certain standard; they are related to a certain field of research and so on. Beyond this environment, these elements can become more vague and harder to judge.

The first phase of my PhD study involves a synthesis of the literature. Starting with the academic literature, I decide which databases to cover, but what about the papers or reports that are not there? The so-called ‘grey literature’ includes governmental papers, reports from relevant organisations, etc. I am aware of the existence of some, but certainly not all. The ones I know of feel important to screen, but how do I find others when I don’t know that they exist? It seems harder to find grey literature in the same straightforward manner as with the published articles that are available in electronic databases.

Entering search terms in, for instance, Google gives an idea about information that is already out there. However, finding a balance between using very specific search terms and potentially missing some papers is difficult. Widening the search and dealing with a lot of ‘noise’ is often needed. General search engines serve their purpose, but do not necessarily simplify the task. Grey literature is all over the internet and it is difficult to find it all in one place. In addition to working with the common search engines, I searched for grey literature databases. After checking with a subject librarian, the following sources (in no particular order) seemed worth a look at within the field of health and social care: