For example, look for information on students, rather than college students. Using truncation with search terms also broadens the search and increases the number of items you find. Once you have identified the main topic and keywords for your research, find one or more sources of background information to read. These sources will help you understand the broader context of your research and tell you in general terms what is known about your topic. The most common background sources are encyclopedias and dictionaries from the reference collection.
Textbooks also provide background information.
For more general background you may wish to consult Encyclopaedia Britannica Online . These sources are good starting points for further research. Look them up in the Pepperdine Library Catalog or periodical indexes. Remember that many of the books and articles you find in the Pepperdine Library Catalog or periodical indexes will themselves have bibliographies. Check these bibliographies for additional relevant resources.