Research 101

Why Use Reference Sources?

Reference sources, such as encyclopedias and Research Starters, give you:

• A quick introduction to your subject by the main points briefly;
• In-depth background on some of the major elements of your topic;
• Vocabulary to use for searches in other resources; and
• Bibliographies that can give you ideas for other resources to search.

Tip: To quickly find a reference article from the STCC Library, just type one or more keywords (search terms) into the Search box of Discovery. Most searches will give you a "Research Starter" at the top of the results page! This is a great place to begin. 

STCC Library Discovery Search

Discovery is our library's version of Google.   It searches all the STCC Library's research databases for scholarly articles covering all disciplines.  Search any topic by keyword, and not by question.   Example: "gun control."

Introduction to the New Discovery Search  (A STCC Library How-to Video)

Using Discovery Search (PDF Handout - NEW)

Reference Databases

Similar to Wikipedia, you can search these library databases to find thousands of short articles that are good reference materials for beginning research. 

Reference Books

Below are a few examples of reference books available at the STCC Library. You can find many more by searching in the library catalog.