Reports & Grey Literature
Reports and grey literature can be valuable sources, but they often don't follow traditional publication formats. Here's how to cite them in APA Style:
Key Elements
Author (or Group Author)The person or organization that authored the report.→
Year of PublicationThe year the report was published.→
Title of the ReportCapitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, and proper nouns.→
Report Number (if available)Include this in parentheses after the title.→
PublisherThe organization that issued the report.→
URL or DOI (if available)Include a URL or DOI if the report is available online.
General Format
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of report (Report No. XXX). Publisher. URL or DOI
Examples
- Government Report:
National Institute of Mental Health. (2018). Anxiety disorders (NIH Publication No. 18-5235). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety-disorders - Corporate Report:
World Health Organization. (2021). World malaria report 2021. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/teams/global-malaria-programme/reports/world-malaria-report-2021 - Report from a Non-Governmental Organization:
American Psychological Association. (2020). Stress in America 2020: A national mental health crisis. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2020/10/stress-in-america-crisis - Technical Report:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (1976). Measurement of air pollution from satellite (NASA Technical Report No. NASA CR-2632). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. - Working Paper:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2018). The future of work (OECD Working Paper No. 50). OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/690152e4-en
More Detailed Breakdown
- Author: If a person, use last name and initials. If an agency/organization, use the full official name. For government agencies, start with the larger governing body then the specific agency. If no author, start with the title.
- Date: Use the year of publication, usually on the title page or publication info.
- Title of the Report: Capitalize only the first word and proper nouns. Italicize the title.
- Report Number: If available, include in parentheses after the title. Use "Report No." before the number.
- Publisher: Organization that issued the report. For government, include larger agency first, then sub-agencies. If author and publisher are the same, omit publisher.
- URL or DOI: Include if available online. Use DOI if available, otherwise a stable URL (with protocol).
Important Notes
- Grey Literature: Reports, working papers, conference proceedings, and other materials not published in traditional outlets.
- Variations: Format may vary by report type (e.g., technical, government, NGO).
- Clarity and Accuracy: Provide enough info for the reader to locate the report. Be accurate and complete.
- Missing Information: If any element is missing, provide as much as possible. Use "n.d." if no date, and try to determine the publisher if missing.
- Retrieval Dates: Usually not needed unless the report may change over time.
- More on Authors: For government agencies, begin with the broadest agency, then sub-agencies.
- More on Publishers: If author and publisher are the same, omit publisher from the citation.