Library Research Strategies

This page provides ideas for finding background or topic overview information. 

Share this page: https://library.skagit.edu/research-help/background

Why does background information matter?

Looking at background information can:

• Help you get a basic understanding or overview of your topic and providing foundational knowledge
• Help you identify important dates, places, themes, people, and other stakeholders.
• Can be a good way to locate some key words and/or search terms (start a list!).
• Remember that although it is helpful, instructors do not always consider reference materials (encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc.) as viable sources for research projects. Make sure you check with them before you cite these kinds of sources.

Where to look, SVC (from off campus, login with your MySVC/Canvas username and password):

• Credo Reference 

• Encyclopedia Britannica 

• Enciclopedia Universal en Español (Spanish Language version)

• Points of View Reference Center

Where to look on the Internet:

• Some instructors will allow you to use Wikipedia or other freely accessible Internet reference materials as a background source but make sure you check with them first.