Why Background Information?
Background research is the exploratory research that you do before you start writing your paper or even finding the sources you'll cite. The purpose of background research is to set you up for success with a refined research question and knowledge about the context of your topic.
Some reasons to do background research include:
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Determining an appropriate scope for your research
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Contextualizing your topic in the broader conversation, both scholarly and popular
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Establishing the value of your research
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Identifying experts and other important perspectives
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Identifying important vocabulary that you may use as keywords to expand results or find more relevant results as you search
Questions to Ask
It helps to ask yourself the big W questions as you're exploring your topic. Here are some useful questions to consider:
Who: Is there a specific population you want to focus on? Identify the stakeholders and their opinions.
Where: Where did it begin? Is there a geographic location you want to focus on?
When: Is there a particular time period that you want to focus on? When did it happen? When was the impact?
What: What is the issue, movement, event, etc.? Why does it matter? What else has it impacted?
Locate Background Information
General Background Information
These databases provide overviews of topics. Either of these databases would be a great place to start looking for background information and exploring the conversations around your topic.
- Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints This link opens in a new window
Opposing Viewpoints covers opposing sides of the most current social issues, from Offshore Drilling to Climate Change, Health Care to Immigration. Opposing Viewpoints helps students research, analyze and organize a broad variety of data for conducting research, completing writing assignments, preparing for debates, creating presentations and more.
- CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Covers the most current and controversial issues of the day with summaries, pros and cons, bibliographies and more. Provides reporting and analysis on issues in the news, including issues relating to health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy.
- Oxford Reference This link opens in a new windowPublished by Oxford University Press, it is a fully-indexed, cross-searchable database containing dictionaries, language reference and subject reference works.
Subject Specific Background Information
Depending on the topic of your research, you may want to use a subject-specific encyclopedia database. For example, if my topic is about the use of calligraphy in modern Islamic art, I might want to use Oxford Art Online to explore my topic.
To determine what databases might be best for you to use when exploring your subject-specific topic, consider using a research guide curated by librarians to help you find the most useful resources to use in your research!
- Research Guides by SubjectDiscover librarian-created research guides to direct you to background information resources
- A-Z Database ListUse this list to navigate your options for subject-specific databases. Not sure where to start? Use the drop down filters to narrow by subject or type of information.
If you get stuck, ask a librarian!
