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Finding Background Information

When starting research, it is helpful to conduct some initial exploratory research. For background information on your topic, try the following reference databases that contain hundreds of subject-specific encyclopedias:

• Gale Ebooks (formerly Gale Virtual Reference Library)
• Credo Reference
• Oxford Handbooks Online
• Routledge Handbooks Online
• Sage Reference
• Reference Universe

The research guides for your discipline or research topic also contain a collection of key resources. And even though it isn't a great source from which to pull evidence, Wikipedia is a great resource to gain an overview of a topic, which can launch your exploratory research. 

When in doubt, ask us!

Finding Opposing or Alternative Viewpoints

It might seem counterintuitive that your argument will be stronger if you make it less one-sided and more complex by acknowledging multiple sides of your issue. You do this by including the opposing viewpoint. Sometimes the "opposing" side isn't in direct disagreement with your stance, but it instead offers different solutions or poses different questions about your topic. 

When including an opposing or alternative viewpoint, present the opposing/alternative viewpoint (which may be a quote, fact, statistic, paraphrase, or summary of someone else's argument), give some context for who published that evidence, and then respond to it. Is it valid, and why or why not? If it is valid, what does that mean for your argument? Does it change your understanding of the issue?

You can find opposing viewpoints in the following databases:

• Opposing Viewpoints: this database collects opinion articles published in past newspapers. Please note: The authors may have a clear bias or stake in the issue, which may be described in their brief biography. This doesn't mean you can't use their opinion; you can use it as an example of what the other side feels, and make sure to present the context of the position they're coming from.
• CQ Researcher: This database is a good place to look for background information AND opposing viewpoints on current events

Other approaches to finding opposing viewpoints:

• Identify publications that might have different political leanings and look for your topic in both publications. For example, New York Times is often said to be liberal-leaning while the Wall Street Journal is said to be conservative-leaning; Fox News will air more viewpoints from the right while MSNBC will air more viewpoints from the left. This also goes for search language.
• Do a search using Library Search, a specific library database, Google, or Google Scholar. Scroll through the titles and abstracts and look out for different viewpoints represented. You can use more liberal-leaning terms, such as Affordable Care Act, or more conservative-leaning language, such as Obamacare.

Even peer-reviewed, scholarly articles come to different conclusions on the same research topic. Reading a literature review on your topic might give you a sense of which studies have found similar evidence and which articles have found contradictory evidence.

The world isn't black and white, and an article's argument may not be 100 percent pro or con either. Don't fall into the trap of cherry-picking the strongest quote just to represent the other side; as you really delve into your topic and learn about the history and reasoning behind the different viewpoints, you'll be able to make a more nuanced, educated, and actionable argument yourself.

And of course, when in doubt, ask us!