CCPA: McGill, R. & Muir, A. (Winter 2025): Reference sources
Reference databases
It's important to get background information on your research topic and these reference databases are a great place to start.
- CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
These weekly reports provide thoughtfully written analyses of social, economic and political issues. Every issue features an extensive report on one topic. - Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window
Digitized reference works, covering many disciplines. Very useful for background information on a topic.
Why use reference sources in your research?
Why Use Reference Sources in Your Research?
Research, write, and speak from a position of knowledge
An overview of your topic area provides you with specialized vocabulary that is used relating to your topic (you can use these words for searches later in your research process), and helps you to understand the following:
- The historical perspective on your topic
- What the key issues are and how you may want to refine your topic
- Who are the stakeholders (the groups or individuals interested in or affected by this topic)
- A context of how your topic relates to the other issues that surround it
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