One good first step when conducting research is to gather background information on your topic. Or, perhaps you have a few topics in mind and want to read a little bit about each one before making a choice. Reference sources, particularly the subject encyclopedias, are a good place to begin. They're terrific at laying out basic information about a topic: a chronicle of its history; current status; theory or philosophy; key people; and most importantly, a bibliography of additional sources.
Reference sources will vary depending on your specific topic. A selection of print sources recommended for this class are listed in this guide.
Encyclopedia of Higher Education
Print: Main Ref LB15 .E49 1992
Encyclopedia of Education, 2d Ed. MacMillan
also in print: Main Ref LB15 .E47 2003
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education
Encyclopedia of American Education
Print: Main Ref LB17 .U54 2007
Gender and Education (bibliography)
Gender and Education: An Encyclopedia
Main Ref LC213 .G425 2007
Race, Ethnicity, and Education
Print: Main Ref LC1099.3 R33 2006
The Praeger Handbook of Latino Education in the U.S.
Print: Main Ref LC2669 .P73 2007
Encyclopedia of the Social and Cultural Foundations of Education
Print: Main Ref LB17 .E53 2009
