All Guides: Finding Background Information: Background Research

Background Research

Before you begin a research project, it can be a good idea to compile background information on your topic. Background information can provide:

An overview of the subject that can help you understand and work with scholarly sources on the topic
Key issues surrounding the subject, which can help you refine your specific topic
Names of important people, events, and policies
Keywords and other terminology that can be used to improve your database searching
Citations and additional readings that can lead you to more sources

Explore the library's research guides for even more resources.

Sage Reference & Academic Books
Provides access to social science books, videos, handbooks, encyclopedias, and dictionaries. Formerly called Sage Knowledge.
Oxford Reference Online
Access to over 300 reference works in a single cross-searchable resource. Select 'unlocked' and 'free' resources in availability for full access to content.
Gale in Context
Interdisciplinary content that includes full-text newspapers and periodicals like The Economist, The New York Times, National Geographic, Newsweek, Popular Science, Smithsonian, and more. Empower learning with hundreds of thousands of images, videos, and audio selections that include archival film clips, broadcast video, BBC News, New York Times video, and NPR.
Gale eBooks
Online access to reference sources including encyclopedias, almanacs, series and more.Searches can also be done within subject categories or within individual titles.
CQ Researcher
In-depth reports on national and international topics, including health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the economy.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context (Gale)
Covers today’s hottest social issues. Features include: pro/con viewpoint essays; topic overviews; primary source documents; court case overviews; statistical tables, charts and graphs; full-text journal, newspaper and magazine articles.