- General
2. Find Background Information
After you identify your research topic and some keywords that describe it, find, and read articles in journals, newspapers, and magazines (periodicals) using our research databases:
Ask a Librarian if you need help figuring out which ones are best
Ask a Librarian if you need help figuring out which ones are best
These articles will help you understand the context (historical, cultural, disciplinary) of your topic. They are the foundation supporting further research.
Protip:
By using our databases, you can yield a surprisingly large number of articles on your topic in a relatively short time.
Ask a Librarian for guidance in navigating our research databases.
By using our databases, you can yield a surprisingly large number of articles on your topic in a relatively short time.
Ask a Librarian for guidance in navigating our research databases.
Research Glossary:
Abstract — Summary of an article, book, or publication.
Citation — An identification of the sources used in a paper that would allow others to access and retrieve this material.
Database — A collection of articles, books, images, multimedia, etc. that you can search.
Full Text — Limits your search to only those articles for which a Database has the rights to the entire body of work. Abstract-only articles are not included in this search.
Peer-Reviewed — A publication in which articles go through an official editorial process that involves review and approval by the author's peers (people who are experts in the same subject area).
Periodical — A type of publication that is issued at regularly recurring intervals, for example, a magazine or journal.
Scholarly Journal — A scholarly journal is a publication that is authored by academics for a target audience. A scholarly journal is published by a recognized society with academic goals and missions. The publication will be targeted for professional or academic researchers and have in-depth analysis typically focusing on one discipline or academic field. The publication will likely be peer-reviewed or refereed by external reviewers. The publisher should be a professional association or an academic press.
Abstract — Summary of an article, book, or publication.
Citation — An identification of the sources used in a paper that would allow others to access and retrieve this material.
Database — A collection of articles, books, images, multimedia, etc. that you can search.
Full Text — Limits your search to only those articles for which a Database has the rights to the entire body of work. Abstract-only articles are not included in this search.
Peer-Reviewed — A publication in which articles go through an official editorial process that involves review and approval by the author's peers (people who are experts in the same subject area).
Periodical — A type of publication that is issued at regularly recurring intervals, for example, a magazine or journal.
Scholarly Journal — A scholarly journal is a publication that is authored by academics for a target audience. A scholarly journal is published by a recognized society with academic goals and missions. The publication will be targeted for professional or academic researchers and have in-depth analysis typically focusing on one discipline or academic field. The publication will likely be peer-reviewed or refereed by external reviewers. The publisher should be a professional association or an academic press.