Reference sources are great places to get started when researching a new topic. Specialized reference sources can be very helpful for gathering background information on various topics in Global Studies research.
Encyclopedias are great for providing brief overviews, while handbooks and companions provide more detailed information. In both types of reference works, the articles are authored by field experts. As well as getting to know your topic, these sources are also great ways to build search vocabulary that you can use when finding books, journal articles, and dissertations or theses.
Purdue Libraries subscribes to several large online reference collections that include specialized reference sources, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, and companions.
Specialized reference sources can be helpful for gathering background information about various topics and approaches in global studies research. The following sources provide brief overview articles on these.
These resources can be checked out through Purdue Libraries or, if it's an online resource, may require you to login with your Purdue Career Account.
Handbooks and companions contain edited collections of articles that provide more detailed information on research methods in global studies research, as well as on current issues, which are authored by field experts.
Accessing these resources will require you to login with your Purdue Career Account.
In addition to large reference collections, publishers also provide research tools that enable researchers to explore potential research topics and provide additional context surrounding those topics by immediately linking topic descriptions with various sources, including videos, news stories, scholarly journal articles, and relevant biographies.