Background Information History Research Guide Guides At University

Background information can help you learn more about your topic and develop your research question and approach. Common examples of background information sources are dictionaries, encyclopedias, and bibliographies. You may find these sources either as individual books or ebooks by searching our library catalog, or through a library database. Background information usually adds one or more of the following benefits to your research process: For best results, seek background information early in the research process. That way, you can use what you learn about foundational concepts to make changes to your research question or plan for next steps.

Background information sources may contain information on many topics from multiple disciplines. You're probably already familiar with one source for general background information, Wikipedia. *For more biographical databases, see CLIO. You can ask a librarian through online chat, by email, phone, or in person. Check for the answer in our frequently asked questions. Background sources (e.g., reference databases, encyclopedias) provide overviews of topics.

They can help you: The library has general encyclopedias and reference databases (like those listed in the next section), as well as more subject-specific encyclopedias and reference sources. In many cases, if a person has a fairly specific topic, a more subject-specific encyclopedia may be more helpful (though often it’s worth looking at both more general and more subject- specific encyclopedias). Use the Library Search (available from the Campbell Library homepage). Experiment with different keywords. From the Library Search results page you can refine your results.

For example: For general encyclopedias reference databases, the Library has Britannica Academic and Credo Reference. These are available through links at the top of this page, as well as from the Library A-Z Databases List. These library databases on are accessible to RU students, faculty, and staff. Background research paves the way for productive archival research. Use it to get an overview of your topic, to zero in on the details you need to find primary sources, to put archival materials in context, and to help you position your own...

Following are some suggestions and tips for finding background sources. Tertiary sources compile, summarize, index, or help identify scholarly sources on a topic. They are useful for background research or to get an overview of a topic before delving into secondary or primary sources. Common tertiary sources for history and sociology include dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, and abstracting sources. Material to guide users through every step of the research process. 260 4th Street NW Atlanta, GA 30332 +1 404.894.4500 Campus Map

Background information identifies and describes the history and nature of a well-defined research problem with reference to contextualizing existing literature. The background information should indicate the root of the problem being studied, appropriate context of the problem in relation to theory, research, and/or practice, its scope, and the extent to which previous studies have... Background information does not replace the literature review section of a research paper; it is intended to place the research problem within a specific context and an established plan for its solution [i.e., research... Fitterling, Lori. Researching and Writing an Effective Background Section of a Research Paper. Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences; Creating a Research Paper: How to Write the Background to a Study.

DurousseauElectricalInstitute.com; Background Information: Definition of Background Information. Literary Devices Definition and Examples of Literary Terms. Background information expands upon the key points stated in the beginning of your introduction, but it is not intended to be the main focus of the paper. Background information generally supports this question: What is the most important information the reader needs to understand before continuing to read the paper? Sufficient background information helps the reader determine if you have a basic understanding of the research problem being investigated and promotes confidence in the overall quality of your analysis and findings. This information provides the reader with the essential context needed to conceptualize the research problem and understand its significance before moving on to a more thorough analysis of prior research in the literature review...

Background information can also include summaries of foundational research studies. This can be an important element of providing background information if an innovative or groundbreaking study about the research problem laid the foundation for further research or there was a key study that is... The priority is to highlight for the reader what is known about the research problem before you conduct the in-depth analysis of prior research. This is accomplished with a general summary of the foundational research literature [with citations] that document findings that inform your study's overall aims and objectives. NOTE: In some cases, your paper's introduction only needs to describe the research problem, explain its significance, and then present a road map for how you are going to address the problem before moving... However, while providing background information may not be required, including it in the introduction can help highlight important contextual information that may otherwise be hidden or overlooked if placed in the literature review section.

These databases combine encyclopedia entries, published scholarship, and primary source documents for history teachers and students. Available to eligible Nevada public, school, and academic libraries thanks to the Institute for Museum & Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act. Available to eligible Nevada public, school, and academic libraries thanks to the Institute for Museum & Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act. Available to eligible Nevada public, school, and academic libraries thanks to the Institute for Museum & Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act. Available to eligible Nevada public, school, and academic libraries thanks to the Institute for Museum & Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act. This guide is designed to help get you started with your research.

Many of the resources below are paid for by Rasmuson Library. AskRasmusonLibrary@uaf.libanswers.com Phone: 907-474-4781 Text: 907-341-4404 The University of Alaska is an equal opportunity/equal access employer and educational institution. The university is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status. The library is here to help! Book an appointment with the librarian, send us an email with a question, or visit us in person during our open hours

Background information is introductory information that gives you the context to understand the more nuanced and complex academic research on a topic. Background information is an important step in the research process as it allows you to gain a better understanding of a topic, more clearly define your own research topic, and identify terms and directions... Background information can come from many different sources, but can include the following: The internet can also be a good source of background information, although you should exercise caution when using websites as they can be less reputable than other sources. When using a website, critically engage with the information and treat it with some skepticism. Use other resources (whether that's other websites or any of the tools listed above) to verify information you find.

Look around the website you're using and identify who wrote it, when it was most recently updated, and what purpose it serves - using a tool like the CRAAP test can be helpful in... Wikipedia in particular is often brought up as a background source. Wikipedia can be edited by anybody, which leads to possible errors, whether intentional or not. This is why Wikipedia is rarely a good source to include in academic research - we expect that your assignments will utilize more reputable sources, such as peer reviewed journal articles or scholarly books. However, Wikipedia can still be useful tool when gathering information that contextualizes and provides an overview on a certain topic, such as the key figures, key terms, or basic explanations of a concept. Always verify the information you find with other sources, and check the sources used in the Wikipedia article at the end of the page.

Click below to schedule one-on-one support from a librarian. Schedule Appointment #mySched13485 { background: #E45424; border: 1px solid #CCCCCC; border-radius: 4px; color: #FFFFFF; font: 14px Arial, Helvetica, Verdana; padding: 8px 20px; cursor: pointer; } #mySched13485:hover { opacity: 0.9; } These databases can give you background information on almost any historical topic, no matter the place or time.

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