Finding background information is an essential part of the research process because it helps you develop a solid foundation of knowledge on which to base your research. It provides a good overview of the subject matter and can help to familiarize you with important terminology, dates, events, names, and organizations that are related to your topic. In addition, your background research can help you to understand and further define your topic.
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Book |
Book sources will help you build a broad understanding of your topic. Books are a great place to go for background information, and thus are often a great starting point for research and for defining your topic. |
| Newspaper | Newspapers provide some of the most current information on a topic and can be great for providing historical or societal context for your topic. News articles usually do not provide in-depth analysis of a topic. |
| Magazine | Written by professional journalists and reviewed by editors, popular magazines can be a great source of general information on a topic. Much like newspapers, magazines can be useful for learning more about a topic. |
| Journal | Research-based and thoroughly reviewed by experts prior to publication, academic journals are written for scholars and researchers within a specific discipline. They are the best sources for in-depth analysis of a topic. |
| Web Site | Web sites can meet a variety of different information needs, including gathering background information about or further defining your topic, or finding details not garnered from other sources. However, they must be evaluated carefully and critically. |
Check individual Research Guides related to your topic for recommended reference sources. In addition, you can use the search box below to find subject-specific reference materials in the the Lakeland catalog by doing a search for your subject and dictionary or encyclopedia (for example: religion and encyclopedia).
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Lakeland Community College Library 7700 Clocktower Drive | Kirtland, Ohio 44094-5198 | 440.525.7425 lakelandcc.edu | my.lakelandcc.edu |