To get started with your research process, you may need to do a little background research. This process will get you acquainted with various terms, keywords, events, dates, people, and much more related to any given topic. As you explore your topic, you will start to form ideas and questions that will be the basis of your research question or thesis.
There are several resources that you can access to get background information including:
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A starting point for research and learning that offers unlimited access to hundreds of full text reference books on every subject. Includes encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri and books of quotations.
Widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language, this descriptive dictionary traces the historical development of the language.
Explore tens of thousands of articles, videos, primary sources and journals/periodicals. Browse popular topics, news, biographies, and more! This is a great resource for getting research started or getting more acquainted with a particular topic.
Finding & Using Background Information, duPont-Ball Library, Stetson University (2014): https://youtu.be/LytXS3zrK-A
John B & Jane B work together to gather background information for a research paper.
Finding Background Information Using Britannica Academic
Finding Background Information Using Britannica Academic, duPont-Ball Library, Stetson University (2020):
Watch this video and learn how to use Britannica Academic to get background information on a research topic. This video starts on the library's website, and takes you through the various steps to access and navigate Britannica Academic.