Guides: FSEM 100: Energy &amp; the Environment (Riggs): Searching for Sources

Research Process

See also: From Idea to Inquiry guide
If you want to learn more about selecting a topic and developing research questions, see the guide From Idea to Inquiry: Transforming Topics into Research Questions

Tools to use when choosing a topic and Pre-search

Online encyclopedia sites are great for finding background information. These are academic alternatives to Wikipedia. Use these tools to read overview, big picture information about a topic. The resources below are available through the library and include many subject specific encyclopedias.

Britannica Academic
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.
Credo Reference
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.
Gale eBooks
A searchable, full-text database of encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources.

Finding a focus and Collecting evidence

Search these research databases to find books, eBooks, articles, and more. Look for ways to limit or filter results to find books only or to find scholarly articles only.

Library databases that cover many subject areas:

OneSearch
Use to find Books, eBooks, and articles available through our library.
Academic Search Complete (EBSCOhost)
Use this library database to find popular and scholarly articles. It covers virtually all academic areas of study.
ProQuest Research Library
Use this database to find full-text articles from scholarly journals, professional publications, and magazines.
Statista
Statistics and studies gathered by market researchers, trade organizations, scientific publications, and government sources on over 600 industries.

Library databases that are focused on science and environmental science.

Science Direct
This library database is focused on published scientific research and includes articles and eBooks.
Gale In Context: Environmental Studies
This database has authoritative content on the development of emerging green technologies and discusses issues on the environment, sustainability and more.

Go to the main library databases page:

A to Z Database List
All databases available through the library. Organized alphabetically or limit by subject.

FSEM 100: Energy & the Environment (Riggs)

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Research Process

Tools to use when choosing a topic and Pre-search

Finding a focus and Collecting evidence

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FSEM 100: Energy & the Environment (Riggs)

Research Process

Tools to use when choosing a topic and Pre-search

Finding a focus and Collecting evidence