Find Background Info Research Process Libguides At University Of

Leo Migdal

-Dec 7, 2025, 10:56 PM

find background info research process libguides at university of

Email: reference-flint@umich.edu Phone: (810) 762-3400 Text message: (810) 407-5434 (text messages only) Read a general encyclopedia article on the top two or three topics you are considering. Reading a broad summary enables you to get an overview of the topic and see how your idea relates to broader, narrower, and related issues. It also provides a great source for finding words commonly used to describe the topic. These keywords may be very useful to your later research. If you can't find an article on your topic, try using broader terms and ask for help from a librarian.

The databases listed below are good places to find general information. The library's print reference collection can also be useful and is located on the third floor of the library. info This is a space for the teal alert bar. notifications This is a space for the yellow alert bar. When getting started with your research, it is a good idea to get a general overview of a topic or gather background information. This information can help you decide if the topic really is in line with your thinking, and whether you want to continue researching in that subject area.

Background information may include facts, historical figures, timelines, definitions, origins, theories, events, and more. Reference resources are the most authoritative sources for locating general or background information. Reference resources are generally considered to be encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, and thesauri. You may visit the Find an E-Book page to locate reference resources in the Library. Recommended databases include the following: Content: Ebook database from the American Psychological Association that includes the most current scholarly and professional titles published by APA, as well as historical and classic works from the behavioral and social sciences.

Once you have identified some keywords, the next step is to find background information on your topic. Background research: Our research guides will guide you to the appropriate sources based on the subject of your topic. Reference databases that may be helpful for any topic are listed below. Here's one strategy for developing a research topic once you have a broad topic in mind: The topic development process will help you to develop your thesis, which is essentially your proposed answer to your research question.

You will then be ready to use the sources you've found, and find more sources in order to support that thesis, or to answer your research question. Imagine the universe of information available on a given topic as water escaping from a firehose. You can use the 5W Criteria to help make the flow more manageable. What is my question? Your research question is different than your topic. For example, your topic might be racial profiling in law enforcement and its impact on racism.

However, your research question might be something like: how do racial profiling and law enforcement influence racism? So think about what is your main argument? Does racial profiling affect racism or not? In what ways do racial profiling and law enforcement influence racism? Background research can take several forms. You might search Google, read a few articles, or page through a chapter in a book.

In all of these instances, you will be briefly surveying the existing information to learn about your topic. Identify key concepts, important terminology, notable people, and big events related to the topic Narrow your topic by making your research question more specific Identify keywords to use in your searching Highlight potential references and resources to use Gale Ebooks (formerly named Gale Virtual Library or GVRL) provides a wealth of full-text reference and general subject books in a wide variety of subjects.

Sources offered in the GVRL include multi-volume encyclopedias, biographical collections, business plan handbooks, company histories, consumer health references and history compilations. A wide variety of subjects are covered including arts, biography, business, education, environment, history, law, medicine, multicultural, religion and science. If you can't find an encyclopedia, dictionary or textbook article on your topic, try using broader keywords or ask a librarian for help. For example, if your topic is "global warming," consider searching for an encyclopedia on the environment. Once you have identified keywords, the next step is to find background information on your topic. Background information serves many purposes:

Indiana University Indianapolis Indiana University Indianapolis IU Indianapolis Before you can start any research on your topic, you must have a background knowledge of it. Books and websites can provide you with that knowledge. Remember, background information is always a starting point for research, not an ending point. Detailed description of, "Using Wikipedia for Research" (317) 274-0469 755 W.

Michigan Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 When you have a new project, finding background information on your topic is a great way to learn more about the topic, including major concepts, terms, people, and historical events and decide what specific... Background information can also help you identify keywords for future resources and writing. Reference works are a great source of background information, as they provide basic, concise information on a topic. Examples of reference works include: A reference work is also known as a tertiary source (as opposed to primary and secondary sources).

Tertiary sources compile, summarize, digest, and organize the information in primary and secondary sources to provide background information on a topic. Tertiary sources are typically used to: Reference works/tertiary sources are not used as cited evidence in papers written for university level courses, unless there is a compelling reason to do so, such as when conflicting information must be acknowledged. More information about primary, secondary, and tertiary sources can be found on the Evaluating Sources guide. Reference sources are a great place to start your research when you need to gather initial information about a topic or get a rough overview of a subject so you can decide what areas... Reference books and online tools are also excellent for looking up a quick fact, definition, or date, and they will often direct you to more sources.

If none of the recommended resources are quite what you're looking for, try a search in the Library catalog for the subject you're researching and "reference", "handbook", "guide", or "companion" to see what reference... Remember that you can always reach out to a librarian for help if your search doesn't turn up promising results! We've collected a diverse set of reference sources in this guide, and it can be hard to know what type of resource to start with. Use the following suggestions to help guide you, and check out the sub-pages after this page for recommendations for each of the resource types outlined below! Consult a dictionary or encyclopedia as one of the first steps in your research process. They can provide you with basic background so you can begin to formulate a research question and get a better sense of how your topic fits into a broader context.

If you are researching an individual, biographical dictionaries are another great place to start. Once you have gathered some basic background information, consulting a research guide, handbook, or bibliography can help you figure out what has been written about your topic and which major sources you'll need to... Once you've identified keywords for your topic or research question, you can use them to start searching for background information. The below resources are good starting points for finding background information through the library.

Find Background Info Research Process Libguides At University Of

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Email: Reference-flint@umich.edu Phone: (810) 762-3400 Text Message: (810) 407-5434 (text

The Databases Listed Below Are Good Places To Find General

Background Information May Include Facts, Historical Figures, Timelines, Definitions, Origins,

Once You Have Identified Some Keywords, The Next Step Is

You Will Then Be Ready To Use The Sources You've