There are a number of multi-disciplinary databases that may help you get started with quick research. A few good choices are listed below. For more subject-focused content, you'll want to search for other guides or databases more focused on your subject or topic. You can also use our Subject Librarian list to identify and contact the subject expert librarian in your area. Or use our Ask Us! service to chat with library staff regarding your questions.
Your class research assignments will contain parameters that you must follow. To avoid being overwhelmed, use the following questions as a checklist to help you plan your research strategy:
These are just some of the parameters you may encounter (Badke, 2021; Gill, 2014). If you are ever unsure of your assignment parameters, talk with your instructor.
Presearching, or pre-research, is about acquiring background knowledge on a potential research topic to:
If you can address the above bullets in your presearch, then you should know enough to determine if this is a topic you want to pursue or if you want to find a different topic.
Where do you go to get presearching background knowledge?
Because Wikipedia is crowdsourced, most professors will not allow you to cite it in your research paper. However, Wikipedia is a great presearching resource when used with caution. Anyone can create and edit content in Wikipedia, meaning the information may be inaccurate. You can't tell who the authors or editors are, what qualifies them to write on the topic, or even if they are qualified at all.
Do: Use Wikipedia to gain basic information and vocabulary on a topic, such as dates and timelines for historical events, or for outlining aspects of a topic. Entries on popular topics, such as TV shows, extreme sports, and prominent people, tend to have more detail.
Don't: Use Wikipedia for specific information about new theories, analyses, data, and interpretations to support your arguments.
In your research, Wikipedia will give you ideas and a feel for potential topics. Once you've established a tentative research question, do your research using scholarly materials. Use the references at the bottom of the Wikipedia page
Books are a great source of background information because they often provide a "big picture" perspective.
At the presearch stage, there is no need to read the entire book. If you already have a topic in mind, use the table of contents to lead you to chapters that are closest to your topic. The table of contents can also give you more specific topic ideas.
Book introductions often provide:
For most topics, pick a fairly current book, because it will deal with recent developments in the subject area.
Badke, W. (2021). Research strategies: Finding your way through the information fog (7th ed.). iUniverse.
Gill, C.M. (2014). Essential writing skills for college and beyond. Writer's Digest Books.
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