A good way to begin your research is to find sources of background information. This is especially important if you are unfamiliar with the subject area.
Use encyclopedias, handbooks and dictionaries to:
Consult authoritative encyclopedias, such as the one listed below, to get a broad overview of a subject, a concise overview of a concept, school of thought or person.
Use handbooks to locate in-depth articles written by noted experts. Handbooks typically offer thorough introductions to topics and a critical survey of the current state of scholarship in a particular field.
Selected handbooks include:
Oxford Handbooks Online includes the following handbooks:
Use bibliographies to find a comprehensive list of sources on a specific topic or a selective list of key works on a topic.
Oxford Bibliographies Online (OBO). Search for your broad topic across the OBO platform. Useful essays include:
Provide authoritative definitions of words, concepts, etc.
