What are encyclopedias and dictionaries?
Answer
The background information found in tertiary sources, such as encyclopedias and dictionaries can help you get started with your research, grounding you in concepts, definitions, and keywords that are relevant to your topic. They:
- Provide an overview of a topic by synthesizing information from many primary and secondary sources
- Can help you understand your topic and develop keywords for searching
- Are not always accepted as a source for university-level assignments (check with your instructor)
To learn more about finding sources like encyclopedias and dictionaries, see the Background Reference Resources Guide.
Examples of encyclopedias and dictionaries:
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Costume and Fashion by Jack Cassin-Scott
- Encyclopedia of Soil Science, edited by Ward Chesworth
- Oxford Dictionary of Food and Nutrition, edited by David A. Bender