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Persistent URL http://purl.org/net/epubs/work/56187
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Record Id 56187
Title GL transparency: through a glass, clearly
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Abstract GL (Grey literature, interpreted here as grey objects) is very heterogeneous in content, form and quality. Most GL objects evolve through a workflow. Some of these phases involve some form of evaluation or peer review, commonly internal within the management structure of an organisation and possibly involving external advice, including from ‘friendly peers’ via an e-preprint mechanism. Unlike white literature the evaluation process commonly is unrecorded and undocumented. This leads to accusations that grey literature lacks quality and transparency. This paper proposes how the GL community can overcome this – generally unfounded – accusation, building on our previous work. A GL repository records the intellectual property of that organisation (2004). We have demonstrated that effective use of this resource requires that the metadata is formalised (1999, 2004) – more precisely in a CERIF-CRIS (Common European Research Information Format – Current Research Information System) (2005). The GL is then available in the context of the work of the organisation and/or its stakeholders managing strategy, evaluation, funding and cost-accounting, innovation and knowledge transfer and public information (2005). This provides user-evaluated assurance on the quality and relevance of the grey object. CERIF provides temporally-based relationships between grey objects (and white objects) thus recording evolution of the object during the workflow – hence provenance. This concept was further refined as ‘Greyscape’ (2007) and the technologies for interoperation – in order to provide the underpinning homogeneous access to the heterogeneous repositories - surveyed (2008). Efficiency of using CERIF was outlined in (2009). Using advanced hyperactive objects (2006) is postponed until the requirement is realised by the community. CERIF-CRIS provides the capability for greater quality and transparency through novel methods of evaluating quality, provenance and review including Web2.0 recommender-type systems as well as conventional review mechanisms. CERIF-CRIS provides the way to overcome criticism of GL. The key messages are: 1. formal metadata associated with grey literature repositories improves relevance and quality; 2. transparency requires recording the workflow phases of a grey object within the context of a research information system; 3. a solution – CERIF – exists already which covers these requirements.
Organisation ESC , STFC
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Language English (EN)
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Journal Article The Grey Journal 7, no. 2 (2011): 99-104. PaperGLTransparen…sClearly20100828.doc 2011