Background Information
When you're exploring a research topic, it may be helpful to gather some key information before doing a more in depth search. Learning more about your topic of interest will help you to narrow your research question and generate keyword terms for use in databases. Try the sources below to get started.
- Oxford Reference Online This link opens in a new windowOnline version of many Oxford University Press reference works, ranging from specialized dictionaries and companions to major reference works such as the Encyclopedia of Human Rights, the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink, the Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States, and the Oxford Encyclopedia of Economic History, among many others.
- SAGE Knowledge This link opens in a new windowAn online collection of subject encyclopedias and handbooks covering a wide-variety of subjects in the social sciences. Particularly strong for handbook coverage.
Choosing Keywords
Getting started on your research? This video will show you how to come up with keywords based on your research topic.
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Your Librarian
Lauren McKeen McDonald
Contact:
Open Education Librarian
Northwestern University Libraries
Administrative Suite, 1392
lauren.mckeen@northwestern.edu
Northwestern University Libraries
Administrative Suite, 1392
lauren.mckeen@northwestern.edu
847.467.4658