Getting Started with Pre-Research
Systems Librarian
Why Conduct Background Research?
When we conduct background research, we are looking for explainers or overviews:
- To gain familiarity with your topic.
- To determine if your topic is searchable.
- not enough results? broaden your search.
- too many results? narrow your search.
- To provide historical and social context.
- To identify experts related to the topic.
- To learn additional keywords.
- look for synonyms or additional terms related to your topic.
- To find a starting point for your research.
Library Search Tools Like Wikipedia
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Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Use this to: find reliable, citable background information across all academic subjects.
Find: reference entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks, spanning the arts, humanities, social sciences, STEM, health, business, and more. Includes images, audio files, and videos to enhance your understanding.
Great for: getting started on a research project, developing and narrowing research topics, building foundational knowledge in any subject, understanding key concepts and terminology, or finding reputable background information for essays and discussions. -
Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window
Use this to: explore Gale’s extensive eBook collection covering a wide range of subjects.
Find: eBooks, encyclopedias, and specialized reference sources across various disciplines, along with integrated features like citation tools, text-to-speech, and translation options.
Great for: finding background information and foundational knowledge on any subject, accessing overviews of complex or highly debated topics, locating authoritative definitions and explanations, or utilizing built-in tools for reading and citing sources. -
Salem Press Online This link opens in a new window
Use this to: get reliable background information and context across a wide range of subjects.
Find: encyclopedias, biographical dictionaries, critical essays, and primary document collections on topics in history, literature, science, health, and business.
Great for: starting essays and research papers, understanding complex topics, finding overviews or timelines, and accessing curated primary sources for assignments for general education courses. -
Search Everything This link opens in a new window
Use this to: quickly search across most of the library's online resources, including databases, e-books, and physical books - all from one search box.
Find: a wide range of results, such as articles, books (physical and electronic), videos, reports, and more, that you can easily sort and filter by date, type of source, or topic.
Great for: getting started on almost any topic, finding varied source types in one place, or getting a general overview of library resources without searching individual databases.
Beginning Research with Wikipedia & Google
Watch this short video to learn about beginning your research with search tools you already know - Google and Wikipedia. Never cite Wikipedia in an academic paper, but use it for pre-research and background information to get familiar with your topic.
Click the image below to complete the Background Research Tips Tutorial to learn more about conducting background research.
