Why non-governmental organizations tend to publish non peer-reviewed “grey” literature?

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Is there any reason why most non-governmental organizations (NGOs) tend to publish non-peer reviewed literature? I have seen some NGO scientists as co-authors, even in some important papers, but most of their production is reports which are not peer-reviewed. While it is true that most NGOs do not do basic research but some of their reports could be easily converted in reviews, some of their projects in applied research.



Do they want to avoid peer review for political reasons to be able to convey the message they want? In my view their message would be much stronger if it came from a peer-reviewed article. Is it also a matter of time as peer-reviewed articles take a long time to get published?










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  • What is NGO here?
    – Dmitry Savostyanov
    3 hours ago










  • @DmitrySavostyanov thanks, fixed!
    – Herman Toothrot
    3 hours ago














up vote
1
down vote

favorite












Is there any reason why most non-governmental organizations (NGOs) tend to publish non-peer reviewed literature? I have seen some NGO scientists as co-authors, even in some important papers, but most of their production is reports which are not peer-reviewed. While it is true that most NGOs do not do basic research but some of their reports could be easily converted in reviews, some of their projects in applied research.



Do they want to avoid peer review for political reasons to be able to convey the message they want? In my view their message would be much stronger if it came from a peer-reviewed article. Is it also a matter of time as peer-reviewed articles take a long time to get published?










share|improve this question























  • What is NGO here?
    – Dmitry Savostyanov
    3 hours ago










  • @DmitrySavostyanov thanks, fixed!
    – Herman Toothrot
    3 hours ago












up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











Is there any reason why most non-governmental organizations (NGOs) tend to publish non-peer reviewed literature? I have seen some NGO scientists as co-authors, even in some important papers, but most of their production is reports which are not peer-reviewed. While it is true that most NGOs do not do basic research but some of their reports could be easily converted in reviews, some of their projects in applied research.



Do they want to avoid peer review for political reasons to be able to convey the message they want? In my view their message would be much stronger if it came from a peer-reviewed article. Is it also a matter of time as peer-reviewed articles take a long time to get published?










share|improve this question















Is there any reason why most non-governmental organizations (NGOs) tend to publish non-peer reviewed literature? I have seen some NGO scientists as co-authors, even in some important papers, but most of their production is reports which are not peer-reviewed. While it is true that most NGOs do not do basic research but some of their reports could be easily converted in reviews, some of their projects in applied research.



Do they want to avoid peer review for political reasons to be able to convey the message they want? In my view their message would be much stronger if it came from a peer-reviewed article. Is it also a matter of time as peer-reviewed articles take a long time to get published?







peer-review grey-literature ngo






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edited 3 hours ago

























asked 3 hours ago









Herman Toothrot

5,93773465




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  • What is NGO here?
    – Dmitry Savostyanov
    3 hours ago










  • @DmitrySavostyanov thanks, fixed!
    – Herman Toothrot
    3 hours ago
















  • What is NGO here?
    – Dmitry Savostyanov
    3 hours ago










  • @DmitrySavostyanov thanks, fixed!
    – Herman Toothrot
    3 hours ago















What is NGO here?
– Dmitry Savostyanov
3 hours ago




What is NGO here?
– Dmitry Savostyanov
3 hours ago












@DmitrySavostyanov thanks, fixed!
– Herman Toothrot
3 hours ago




@DmitrySavostyanov thanks, fixed!
– Herman Toothrot
3 hours ago










1 Answer
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5
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I can think of a couple of reasons:



  1. Peer review is slow. NGOs want their paper to influence policy now, not in one or two years from now.

  2. Peer review journals have a different audience than grey literature. NGOs typically want to communicate with people like policy makers or journalists, and these are less likely to read peer reviewed journals.

  3. Related to point 2: in order to effectively communicate with their intended audience they need a different style of writing and presenting their arguments than what is common and acceptable in peer reviewed journals.





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  • 3




    There may also be a fourth, slightly more nefarious, reason. NGOs are political players, some of their findings may not withstand a careful examination of their methods. That is, I don't question the good intentions of a vast majority of NGOs, but they inherently have an agenda.
    – xLeitix
    2 hours ago










  • I agree with these points but not completely with point number 2, if you publish a peer-reviewed article there is nothing stopping you to create a separate document or report that presents the same results in a more accessible way.
    – Herman Toothrot
    2 hours ago










  • @HermanToothrot Sure, but writing a peer-reviewed paper costs time and money (both not things that most NGOs have excessive amounts of). If it does not help them, why do it?
    – xLeitix
    2 hours ago










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1 Answer
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active

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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

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active

oldest

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active

oldest

votes








up vote
5
down vote













I can think of a couple of reasons:



  1. Peer review is slow. NGOs want their paper to influence policy now, not in one or two years from now.

  2. Peer review journals have a different audience than grey literature. NGOs typically want to communicate with people like policy makers or journalists, and these are less likely to read peer reviewed journals.

  3. Related to point 2: in order to effectively communicate with their intended audience they need a different style of writing and presenting their arguments than what is common and acceptable in peer reviewed journals.





share|improve this answer
















  • 3




    There may also be a fourth, slightly more nefarious, reason. NGOs are political players, some of their findings may not withstand a careful examination of their methods. That is, I don't question the good intentions of a vast majority of NGOs, but they inherently have an agenda.
    – xLeitix
    2 hours ago










  • I agree with these points but not completely with point number 2, if you publish a peer-reviewed article there is nothing stopping you to create a separate document or report that presents the same results in a more accessible way.
    – Herman Toothrot
    2 hours ago










  • @HermanToothrot Sure, but writing a peer-reviewed paper costs time and money (both not things that most NGOs have excessive amounts of). If it does not help them, why do it?
    – xLeitix
    2 hours ago














up vote
5
down vote













I can think of a couple of reasons:



  1. Peer review is slow. NGOs want their paper to influence policy now, not in one or two years from now.

  2. Peer review journals have a different audience than grey literature. NGOs typically want to communicate with people like policy makers or journalists, and these are less likely to read peer reviewed journals.

  3. Related to point 2: in order to effectively communicate with their intended audience they need a different style of writing and presenting their arguments than what is common and acceptable in peer reviewed journals.





share|improve this answer
















  • 3




    There may also be a fourth, slightly more nefarious, reason. NGOs are political players, some of their findings may not withstand a careful examination of their methods. That is, I don't question the good intentions of a vast majority of NGOs, but they inherently have an agenda.
    – xLeitix
    2 hours ago










  • I agree with these points but not completely with point number 2, if you publish a peer-reviewed article there is nothing stopping you to create a separate document or report that presents the same results in a more accessible way.
    – Herman Toothrot
    2 hours ago










  • @HermanToothrot Sure, but writing a peer-reviewed paper costs time and money (both not things that most NGOs have excessive amounts of). If it does not help them, why do it?
    – xLeitix
    2 hours ago












up vote
5
down vote










up vote
5
down vote









I can think of a couple of reasons:



  1. Peer review is slow. NGOs want their paper to influence policy now, not in one or two years from now.

  2. Peer review journals have a different audience than grey literature. NGOs typically want to communicate with people like policy makers or journalists, and these are less likely to read peer reviewed journals.

  3. Related to point 2: in order to effectively communicate with their intended audience they need a different style of writing and presenting their arguments than what is common and acceptable in peer reviewed journals.





share|improve this answer












I can think of a couple of reasons:



  1. Peer review is slow. NGOs want their paper to influence policy now, not in one or two years from now.

  2. Peer review journals have a different audience than grey literature. NGOs typically want to communicate with people like policy makers or journalists, and these are less likely to read peer reviewed journals.

  3. Related to point 2: in order to effectively communicate with their intended audience they need a different style of writing and presenting their arguments than what is common and acceptable in peer reviewed journals.






share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 3 hours ago









Maarten Buis

20.2k24566




20.2k24566







  • 3




    There may also be a fourth, slightly more nefarious, reason. NGOs are political players, some of their findings may not withstand a careful examination of their methods. That is, I don't question the good intentions of a vast majority of NGOs, but they inherently have an agenda.
    – xLeitix
    2 hours ago










  • I agree with these points but not completely with point number 2, if you publish a peer-reviewed article there is nothing stopping you to create a separate document or report that presents the same results in a more accessible way.
    – Herman Toothrot
    2 hours ago










  • @HermanToothrot Sure, but writing a peer-reviewed paper costs time and money (both not things that most NGOs have excessive amounts of). If it does not help them, why do it?
    – xLeitix
    2 hours ago












  • 3




    There may also be a fourth, slightly more nefarious, reason. NGOs are political players, some of their findings may not withstand a careful examination of their methods. That is, I don't question the good intentions of a vast majority of NGOs, but they inherently have an agenda.
    – xLeitix
    2 hours ago










  • I agree with these points but not completely with point number 2, if you publish a peer-reviewed article there is nothing stopping you to create a separate document or report that presents the same results in a more accessible way.
    – Herman Toothrot
    2 hours ago










  • @HermanToothrot Sure, but writing a peer-reviewed paper costs time and money (both not things that most NGOs have excessive amounts of). If it does not help them, why do it?
    – xLeitix
    2 hours ago







3




3




There may also be a fourth, slightly more nefarious, reason. NGOs are political players, some of their findings may not withstand a careful examination of their methods. That is, I don't question the good intentions of a vast majority of NGOs, but they inherently have an agenda.
– xLeitix
2 hours ago




There may also be a fourth, slightly more nefarious, reason. NGOs are political players, some of their findings may not withstand a careful examination of their methods. That is, I don't question the good intentions of a vast majority of NGOs, but they inherently have an agenda.
– xLeitix
2 hours ago












I agree with these points but not completely with point number 2, if you publish a peer-reviewed article there is nothing stopping you to create a separate document or report that presents the same results in a more accessible way.
– Herman Toothrot
2 hours ago




I agree with these points but not completely with point number 2, if you publish a peer-reviewed article there is nothing stopping you to create a separate document or report that presents the same results in a more accessible way.
– Herman Toothrot
2 hours ago












@HermanToothrot Sure, but writing a peer-reviewed paper costs time and money (both not things that most NGOs have excessive amounts of). If it does not help them, why do it?
– xLeitix
2 hours ago




@HermanToothrot Sure, but writing a peer-reviewed paper costs time and money (both not things that most NGOs have excessive amounts of). If it does not help them, why do it?
– xLeitix
2 hours ago

















 

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