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LIB: Research Process
Topic Guide

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  4. LIB: Research Process

Finding Background information: focusing your topic

Type of Source Definition Examples
Reference Sources
  • type of Secondary Source
  • offers a summary or review of a subject
  • Dictionary
  • Encyclopedia

Check out some of the digital reference sources

Why start with a reference source?

  • OVERVIEW:
    provides a broad understanding of your topic.
  • SUB-TOPICS:
    encyclopedias will divide your topic into areas of focus for you.
  • KEYWORDS (people, places, events, dates) :
    as you get further into research, these are essential when searching for primary and secondary sources.

 
    

Can I use Wikipedia?

Wikipedia can be a good place to start research.
However it is not considered a reliable source. 

The Good
  • Well organized overview (broken up into easy-to-read chunks)
  • Citations and resources at the bottom of the page
The Sketchy
  • Anyone can edit the information
  • Content must be verified with other, authoritative sources
  • Last Updated: Nov 17, 2025 3:22 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.milton.edu/researchprocess
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Subjects: Library Resources