CampusGuides: Background Information : Background Information Basics

Welcome to the Background Information Guide!

This guide will introduce you to sources that you can use for background information.

Background information is the foundational information you must know to create a research question or topic. Background information gives you an overview of basic ideas or concepts related to your topic. It also introduces you to the academic language that experts may use to describe your topic.

Start with these Databases for Background Information

Credo Reference
Reference books including dictionaries, encyclopedias, quotations, and atlases, plus a wide range of subject-specific reference titles.
Searchable collection of over 500 electronic reference books including dictionaries and subject encyclopedias.
CQ Researcher
In-depth, balanced reports on controversial issues and current events.
New reports are published weekly.
Opposing Viewpoints (Gale in Context)
Pro and con articles about controversial issues. Includes topic overview, primary source documents and statistics.
Gale EBOOKS
Electronic reference books, including subject encyclopedias.
Britannica Academic
Encyclopedia, Merriam Webster's Dictionary & Thesaurus included.
Complete online version of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Additional features include videos, magazine and journal articles, dictionary, thesaurus, notable quotations, and relevant Web link.
Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia
Over 25,000 brief encyclopedic entries covering a variety of subject areas.