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Background Sources
Background sources provide basic facts, definitions, and overviews of various topics. Much background information can be found using a basic web search and a critical eye. Useful categories of sources include:
- Encyclopedias, even Wikipedia.
- Newspapers, such as The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
- News websites
- Non-partisan research organizations, such as the Pew Research Center
- Think tanks and specialized education research organizations. Note, some of these are partisan or have a specific perspective. List of education research organizations.
- Books, especially the introductions. Search the Library Catalog for books.
Some library sources are listed below.
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Academic Search CompleteAcademic Search Complete is multi-disciplinary database that includes peer-reviewed journal articles, magazine articles, newspaper articles, and more.
Statistics
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National Center for Education StatisticsThe federal clearinghouse for education statistics.
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Higher Education Research InstituteHERI publishes surveys and statistical reports on a wide range of higher education topics.
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American FactfinderDemographic information on the United States