Use Background Info as a Starting Point

An overview of your broad topic area helps you understand...

• what the key issues are and how you may want to refine your topic

• who are the stakeholders (the groups or individuals this topic concerns)

• a context of how your topic relates to the other issues that surround it

• a historical perspective on your topic

• specialized vocabulary or search words that are used in your field (you will use these words for searches later in your research process)

Start your research with background info from Business Encyclopedias: 

Digital Reference Books Online - highly recommended!

1. CLICK the library database links below to access digital reference books and subject encyclopedias
2. FIRST try a broad search on your topic, such as:
   genetically modified foods
   biotech foods
3. THEN try narrower searches such as:                                                           
   genetically modified foods nutrition
   genetically modified foods famine
   genetically modified foods economic development