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Chapter 7. Reference Sources: Finding Answers
Chapter Themes
- Web reference sources
- Wikipedia
- Subscription databases
- Free web resources
- Traditional print reference books
Links to Websites Mentioned in the Chapter
Encyclopedias
As a student you are encouraged to go beyond Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org) and its companion websites Wiktionary (http://www.wiktionary.com) and WikiAnswers (http://wiki.answers.com) to use the many other resources introduced to you in this chapter.
Encyclopedias are a good place to start any research, as they will provide you with some basic information on a topic and can help you identify keywords that may help with database or search engine searching. These free web encyclopedias provide a good start:
- Britannica.com
http://www.britannica.com
This free version of the subscription database offers limited access to entries. Only subscribers get complete access. The subscription database offers the full resources of one of the most esteemed print reference resources along with the easy functionality of an online tool. Ask and see if your library offers the subscription version.
- Encyclopedia.com
http://www.encyclopedia.com
You will see that Encyclopedia.com states right above its search box that it uses resources from 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries. As you scroll down its homepage screen, you will see more information about those sources.
- Infoplease Encyclopedia
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia
The Infoplease site utilizes the Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.
Subject-Specific Encyclopedias
For almost every subject that exists there is probably also a subject-specific encyclopedia to help. Some of these specialized encyclopedias may only exist in print format at this time. Check with your library to find a specialized encyclopedia for your research topic. Here are some examples that were mentioned in the chapter:
- Encyclopedia of Bad Taste
Available in print only at this time.
- Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Available in print or through the Gale Virtual Reference Library as a subscription web resource.
- Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Available in print or through Oxford Reference Online as a subscription web resource.
- Encyclopedia of Religion
Available in print or through the Gale Virtual Reference Library as a subscription web resource.
- Encyclopedia of the Solar System, Second Edition
Available as a print source or electronically through the ScienceDirect subscription database.
- Encyclopedia of Unbelief
Available in print only at this time.
- Star Trek Encyclopedia
Available in print only at this time.
Online subscription collections of specialized encyclopedias may be part of your library’s collections. Check to see if you library has a subscription to these collections:
- Credo Reference
This is a collection of dictionaries, specialized encyclopedias, and handbooks.
CQ Researcher
Also a subscription database, this can act as an encyclopedia-type guide to “hot topics.”
- Gale Virtual Reference Library
Libraries can select titles and create their own collection of reference titles that then become their virtual library.
- Oxford Reference Online
The Oxford collection offers many of this publisher’s major encyclopedic titles.
Dictionaries
- Dictionary.com
http://www.dictionary.com
The Dictionary.com site offers not only word definitions but all kinds of related resources, such as a thesaurus and translation. There is also a free mobile app available.
- Merriam Webster Online
http://www.m-w.com
From a well-known dictionary publisher, this site offers definitions, a thesaurus, and links to other online dictionaries from the same publisher.
- Oxford English Dictionary
Available in print and as a subscription database. Check to see if your library offers it in either format.
- Wiktionary
http://www.wiktionary.com
This Wikipedia companion offers a multilingual dictionary. Entries include an audio pronunciation guide.
- YourDictionary.com
http://www.yourdictionary.com
This site uses the Webster's New World College Dictionary, a well-established print source, and also offers thesaurus help, examples of a word’s use in a sentence, and more. It also has quite a bit of advertising to avoid.
Reference Sources to Find Supporting Information
There are many reference websites available that can help you find information such as specific facts or statistics that can help support your research statements.
General Reference Resources
- RefDesk.com
http://www.refdesk.com
Compiled by Bob Drudge, this site calls itself the “Fact Checker for the Internet.”
- Virtual Reference Shelf
http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/virtualref.html
This collection of links is maintained by the Library of Congress. If you don’t find what you need, you can always e-mail a question to the LOC for help.
Statistical Resources to Seek Out
- FedStats
http://www.fedstats.gov
This tool was created to help take the guesswork out of finding government statistics. You can create a keyword search for what you need or browse material by subject.
- LexisNexis Statistical
This is a subscription site. Check at your library to see if they have this.
- Social Explorer
http://www.socialexplorer.com
This database website offers some free material but it is primarily a subscription site. It utilizes historical U.S. Census data.
- Statistical Abstract
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab
Compiled every year from 1878 to 2011 by the federal government, the Statistical Abstract is a great general source of statistics on all kinds of subjects. The site also offers links to all of the editions. Statistical Abstract ceased publication with the 2011 edition.
- USA.gov
http://www.usa.gov
This portal website can help you locate any government document on almost any topic.
- World Almanac and Book of Facts
Although available only in print, this is still a great source for statistics and all kinds of facts.
Geographical References
- CIA World Fact Book
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
This reference gives country descriptions, maps, and comparisons.
- Country Studies
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs
Provided by the Federal Research division of the Library of Congress, these in-depth studies give a good profile of over 100 countries. They are periodically revised, so some studies are older materials.
- Google Earth
http://earth.google.com/intl/en
With this free download you can create tour maps, see your neighborhood, see images of building and the earth’s natural features from above, and much more.
- Statesman Yearbook
This sourcebook is available in print or online as a subscription database. Ask your library if they offer this title.
Chronological Information (Timelines)
- InfoPlease Almanac Year by Year 1099 to 2010
http://www.infoplease.com/yearbyyear.html
Covers the years from 1900 to 2010.
- Oxford Reference Online
A subscription service, this also offers “Timelines” that reach back to the ancient world through the twentieth century. Ask if your library offers Oxford Reference Online.
- Timelines of History
http://timelines.ws
This free website was created by Algis Ratnikas and covers from BC to 1899.
Biographic Sources
- Biography.com
http://www.biography.com
Based on the A&E Television series, this site offers people profiles, photos, and videos.
- Biography Reference Bank
This subscription database can help locate biographies from many sources. Check at your library to see if they offer this.
- Concise Dictionary of American Literary Biography
This title is available as a print source or through the Gale Virtual Reference Collection. Check for its availability at your library.
- Concise Dictionary of British Literary Biography
In addition to print, this title is available through the Gale Virtual Reference Collection.
- Contemporary Authors
This important reference series is available in print. Its content is also included in the Literature Reference Center subscription database.
- Current Biography
This title is available in print as a monthly magazine that is then compiled into a yearbook. It is also available as the subscription database Current Biography Illustrated. The series content is also included in the Biography Reference Bank mentioned earlier. Check with your library for availability.
- Dictionary of American Biography
This print source covers historical American figures.
- Dictionary of Literary Biography
This is a print series with every title focusing on a particular theme. Its content is also available in the Literature Reference Center subscription database. Check to see if your library offers this title in either format.
- Encyclopedia of World Biography
This title is available in print and also as part of the Gale Virtual Reference Collection. Check at your library to see if they offer this.
- Marquis Who’s Who
This is a print or database subscription service. Check at your library to see if they offer this.
Finding People and Organizations
- Associations Unlimited
This subscription database can help you locate organizations by name or activity. The information includes contact information and a description of the organization’s services and activities. A print counterpart for this database is the Encyclopedia of Associations. Ask if your library has this in either format.
- The U.S. Government Manual
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?colectionCode=GOVMAN (updated 3/6/12)
This government site can help you locate individuals, government offices, and agencies and provides information on how our government works.
- Who’s Who in America
This resource gives brief biographies on people active in most fields. It is available as an annual print resource or as a subscription database.
Finding Quotations
- Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations
http://www.bartleby.com/100
This is an online version of the classic print title by John Bartlett. This online edition was made available in 2000 but references a 1919 published version of the title. It can help with quotations from historical figures.
- Credo Reference
This subscription reference collection was mentioned with the encyclopedias but also offers access to several standard quotation dictionaries.
- Oxford Reference Online
This subscription collection offers access to several standard quotation sources like the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.
- Quotations Page
http://www.quotationspage.com
This online resource can help with quotations from historical as well as contemporary sources.
Reference Sources to Write and Cite
Check out chapter 8 for help with these style formats:
- A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations by Kate Turabian (7th ed., 2007)
- The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th ed., 2009)
- The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed., 2009)
Supplementary Materials
More about Government Publications
Some of the reference sources listed in the chapter—Statistical Abstract, CIA World Factbook, and others—were published by the U.S. Government and they represent the many titles published each year, either in print or online, by government agencies. In 1813, the U.S. Congress decided to make information regarding the work of the three branches of government available to all Americans. That led to the development of the Government Printing Office for the purpose of publishing government information, which is made available for free or at little cost to all. The U.S. Government also works with designated Federal Depository Libraries to help make their publications available at libraries around the country. Government publications can be good sources for information because the government collects so many statistics on all kinds of subjects. Most libraries will have some government publications on hand that they place on their reference shelves and in their catalog for you to find and use.
To learn more about government information and publications, you may want to use these resources:
Tools that can help you find government information, besides your own library catalog, are:
- Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
http://catalog.gpo.gov
This offers complete searching of any government publication. This tool will also help you learn if a title is available in a depository library near you.
- Google U.S Government Search (UncleSam)
http://www.unclesamsearch.com (updated 3/6/12)
Use Google searching to locate government publications.
- USA.gov
http://www.usa.gov
This portal site can be searched for all kinds of information, from statistics to how to apply for a passport.
Additional Exercises
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