The HSLS online collection now includes PsycEXTRA, a database that captures difficult-to-find “fugitive” or “gray” literature in the fields of psychology, behavioral science, and health. To access this resource, type “PsycEXTRA” into the search.HSLS box on the HSLS homepage.
What is fugitive or gray literature?
Gray literature consists of publications “…produced on all levels of government, academics, business and industry in print and electronic formats, but which is not controlled by commercial publishers.”1 Gray literature can be difficult to locate because it is disseminated outside the traditional path of peer-reviewed journal/book scholarship.
Why is PsycEXTRA useful?
- PsycEXTRA is useful for locating obscure scientific or scholarly literature outside the traditional commercial publication path.
- It fills the gap by bringing together material which is usually not covered in standard bibliographic databases such as MEDLINE and PsycINFO.
- PDFs are included for a major portion of the publications listed in the database. The variety of materials available in PsycEXTRA include: research reports, policy statements, annual reports, curricula, standards, conference papers and abstracts, fact sheets, consumer brochures, newsletters, pamphlets, directories, popular magazines, white papers, and grant information.
- Currency: new research in psychology and the behavioral sciences often emerges first in the form of technical reports and conference papers, long before it reaches the journal literature. PsycEXTRA can help to identify the first appearance of this research.
- Patient Education: clear, concise explanations of behavior health issues, often found in consumer brochures and newsletters, are accessible through PsycEXTRA.
For more information visit PsycEXTRA’s FAQ page.
Examples of timely topics available in PsycEXTRA:
- Information-Processing Skills Related to Working Memory in Individuals With Asperger’s Disorder (Conference Paper)
- PASRR Screening for Mental Illness in Nursing Facility Applicants and Residents (White Paper)
- Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury, Act of 2007: [H.R. 2201] (Legislation)
- Durham Study to Probe Benefits of Guided Imagery for PTSD [US Department of Veterans Affairs] (Press Release)
1New frontiers in gray literature. Fourth International Conference on Gray Literature: GL 1999. Proceedings; 4–5 Oct 1999; Washington, DC, and Amsterdam, The Netherlands: GrayNet, 1999.
~ Rebecca Abromitis