What are Reference Sources?
Reference materials (also called reference or background sources) offer quick specific facts or information or an overview of a subject. Some examples of reference sources are: dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, almanacs, directories, atlases, and handbooks. These can be online or in print.
Why Use Reference Sources?
Credible Reliable Sources:
- Authoritative publishers
- Articles are written by well respected scholars/experts in the field
Good Background Information:
- Efficient method to identify key terms, dates, people, theories, definitions, associations
More Effective Database Searching:
- Provide you with key words to more efficiently search for articles in databases
Bibliographies
- Most reference articles provide bibliographies that can lead you to new sources in books and journals
