HEP Re-entry Library Guide for Student Research: Background Information
Background Information Video
This three-minute video shows how to find background information
Very Short Introductions - Oxford University Press
- Very Short IntroductionsProvides concise introductions on a diverse range of topics in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences.
CQ Researcher (CQ = Congressional Quarterly)
- CQ ResearcherOffers reports on key issues in the U.S.Congress from 1923 to the present. Includes a searchable archive by keyword, date, or subject.
Background Information about Countries
- A guide to countries of the world byPublication Date: 2016
- International Encyclopedia of Geography byPublication Date: 2017
- Europa World and/or the Regional Surveys of the WorldCovers political and economic information about countries and territories, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
Subject Encyclopedias
Scholarly subject encyclopedias provide background information about specific topics. Entries or articles, written by scholars or subject experts, include bibliographies or suggested readings that will lead to more information on your topic.
You can use subject encyclopedias to identify keywords for your research in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
Search for Subject Encyclopedias (PSU Only)
Selected Online Scholarly Encyclopedias
- Encyclopedia of race, ethnicity, and society byPublication Date: 2008
- International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences byPublication Date: 2015
- Routledge encyclopedia of philosophy byPublication Date: 2001 - present
- The Sage encyclopedia of political behavior byPublication Date: 2017
Selected Online Scholarly Encyclopedias - Science
- Encyclopedia of Ecology byPublication Date: 2018
- Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy byPublication Date: 2008
- Encyclopedia of Science Technology and Ethics byPublication Date: 2004