Sarah Blakesley at California State University, Chico developed the CRAAP test as an easy to remember acronym to help provide a checklist of things to consider when evaluating an information or data resource:
Currency – when was it published? Has it been revised or updated? Do the links work?
Relevance – does the information answer your question? Who is the intended audience?
Authority – who is the author/publisher? Is there contact information? Can you use the URL to figure out the source? (.com, .org, .edu)
Accuracy – where does it come from? Is it supported by evidence?
Purpose – why the information exists
Technical notes:Downloads are limited to 30 reports per session. Exceeding this limit blocks access for the entire University. If you have a research need beyond this limit, please contact us at kresge_library@umich.edu.
Ross Alumni: Ross School of Business Alumni can purchase the full report for a 20% discount. Contact Kresge Library at kresge_library@umich.edu for more information.
The "answers" are not always in a database!
Ask yourself Who Cares? about your topic and try to identify:
Below, see some links to additional resources found by searching online on Electric Vehicles Global and (sales or market). Some of the sources are think tanks or research institutes, others are government or non-governmental groups, trade groups and more.
Company Sources
Don't forget to review a company's website for additional insights into the company. You can also find links to their Annual Report to Shareholders on their corporate website (usually--Look for an "Investors" section). The Annual Report is usually a .PDF with photos, updates about the company's past year and glimpses into their future plans and a Letter to Shareholders from the CEO. Some companies will also have a separate report related to their sustainability or Corporate Social Responsibility activities available on their website.
Check for bias!
Always consider the potential bias of a source (especially when the information comes directly from the company itself) and think about why it might skew one way or another. SIFT the info and/or use the CRAAP test (covered in the Kresge Online Workshop in Canvas).
The databases below contain the full text of scholarly and trade journals, newspapers and more. Search on keywords related to your company or industry (e.g. Tesla or "electric vehicles") or add in a word like "consumers" or "trends" to see what you find.
Citing Business Databases in APA Style from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Harvard Business School Citation Guide
