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Background Sources
| Searching: | Where to Look: | What Search Terms to Use: | What to Look For: |
| Background/ Context | CQ Researcher, Newspapers, Magazines, Scholarly Journals, Websites |
Any specific terms related to your event/issue. Try searching the name of the event/issue, the name of a specific person or place involved, etc. |
A source that will help you explain what happened in the event/issue you’re examining. This source should be as neutral and trustworthy as possible. You need at least one. |
Databases
- CQ Researcher This link opens in a new windowGood starting point for research on "hot topics" in the news including science, education, politics and economics.
- Issues & Controversies This link opens in a new windowSummarizes current issues and controversies in political, economic, social and scientific topics. From Facts on File.
- ProQuest Research Library This link opens in a new windowFrom business and political science to literature and psychology, ProQuest Research Library provides one-stop access to a wide range of popular academic subjects. The database includes more than 4,000 titlesnearly 2,800 in full textfrom 1971 forward. It features a highly-respected, diversified mix of scholarly journals, trade publications, magazines, and newspapers.
- Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new windowSearch more than 13,300 periodicals, including full text for nearly 7,300 peer-reviewed journals. It features a mix of interdisciplinary scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers and books.
- Sage Research Methods This link opens in a new windowResources that assist researchers at all levels through the research process, from coming up with a research question, doing a literature review, planning a project, collecting and analyzing data and writing up a report, dissertation or thesis.
Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias are one of the most common sources of background information. There are both general and subject encyclopedias.
- Gale Virtual Reference Ebooks This link opens in a new windowGale Virtual Reference is an encyclopedia database. You can search all of GVRL at once or you can search through encyclopedias by subject.
- Sage Knowledge This link opens in a new windowSage Knowledge is an encyclopedia resource offering information on diverse topics and subjects.