Background Research
Background research helps us explore and learn more about the topic before we dive deeper into the research. Think about what you already know or what you have learned in class. Search online for additional information or use reference resources like encyclopedias to learn more.
Searching Online for Information
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Provides information about health topics and diseases, including statistics for the United States - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Provides health information on a variety of topics - MedlinePlus
an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends, maintained by the National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Library Reference Databases
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
(Credo) Useful when you're starting out on a research project. Do simple searches to find topic introductions in a variety of subjects. The mind map tool will help you discover related ideas and terms.
Evaluating Information
There is a lot of great information available online, but it is often mixed in with the not as credible information. When looking for information for an assignment, remember to think about the 5 w's:
Who- Who created that information? What do we know about them and why do we trust them?
What- What does the information tell you about your topic? Does it answer your research question?
Where- Where did the information come from? Does the author give their sources?
When- When was the information created? When was it last updated?
Why- Why was the information created? To inform and educate? To sell? To persuade you to think a certain way?