Use reference materials to find background information. Reference books can help you:
Need some more background information about that new concept you learned in class today? Writing a paper on a topic that's new to you? Not sure what topic to choose for your paper? Answer yes to any of these questions, and a subject-specific encyclopedia is the thing for you.
Library encyclopedias and handbooks aren't searchable or freely available on the web, but you can still access many of them online by logging in with your Goodwin ID. ..and feel confident using them as a bona-fide scholarly resource that is written by an expert in the field and reviewed for accuracy!
Wikipedia is a common starting point for many people researching a new topic, but unlike scholarly subject-specific encyclopedias, most professors will not allow you to cite Wikipedia in your bibliography.
Reference Databases:
Content: A reference database useful for accessing scholarly definitions, background and contextual information. Subjects covered include art, biography, business, economics, education, history, literature, music, psychology, religion, and science and technology.
Purpose: An excellent starting point for brainstorming a research topic and building out your initial search terms list.
Special Features: Mindmap; related articles; image search
Search and view more than 250,000 eBooks in this large selection of multidisciplinary eBook titles representing a broad range of academic subject matter. The breadth of information available through this collection ensures that users will have access to information relevant to their research needs.
SAGE Research Methods supports research at all levels by providing material to guide users through every step of the research process. Featuring a library with more than 1000 books, reference works, journal articles, and instructional videos by world-leading academics from across the social sciences, including the largest collection of qualitative methods books available online from any scholarly publisher, SAGE Research Methods is the essential online tool for researchers.