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Grey Literature

What it is, its value, where to search for it, and how to evaluate it.

The AACODS checklist

Grey literature can be appraised using the same tools you would use for evaluating published counterparts.  In fact, you will find many examples of checklists out there if you just Google it.  One we particularly like (and one which is referenced frequently on other grey literature guides) is the AACODS checklist for grey literature, developed by Jess Tyndall (from Torrens University, Australia) because it’s adaptable and flexible to a variety of grey literature types.

AACODS is the acronym for the each element of the evaluation checklist:

  • Authority: Who is responsible for the content?
  • Accuracy: Is the content clear & consistent?
  • Coverage: What is the scope?
  • Objectivity: What biases might exist? (stated/unstated)
  • Date: How current is the content?
  • Significance: Is the resource meaningful, representative, or impactful?

     

Test your grey literature evaluation skills with this activity

Using the criteria outlined in the AACODS Checklist, evaluate the following document:

Diabetes Canada. (2023). Diabetes and Diabetes-Related Out-of-Pocket Costs: 2022 Update. https://www.diabetes.ca/DiabetesCanadaWebsite/media/Advocacy-and-Policy/Advocacy%20Reports/Diabetes-Canada-2022-Out-Of-Pocket-Report-EN-FINAL.pdf 

Want to see how well you fared evaluating this resource? Check your responses against our answer key, linked below.

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This work by The University of Victoria Libraries is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License unless otherwise indicated when material has been used from other sources.