Research Guides: CRIM343 Juvenile Justice Systems: Background research

Background research

Spend a little time doing background research on your ideas. This small investment of your time will help you select a better topic and choose better sources for your research.

Some questions to ask yourself...

Is this topic idea too narrow or too broad? How can I modify my idea?
Are their other terms the experts use to describe my topic that I should use in my own research?
Do I fully understand what I've chosen to research?
Are there important people associated with this topic, either as inventors, theorists, or authors of whom I should be aware?

Some resources available at the BVU Library to help you do some background research include...

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Credo Reference provides access to a large number of encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri and other reference books. Subjects covered include art, biography, history, literature, music, religion, and science and technology.
Encyclopedia of Social Work This link opens in a new window
This collaboration between the National Association of Social Workers (NASW Press) and Oxford University Press (OUP) provides encyclopedia articles on all aspects of social work.. ACCESS LIMITED TO ONE USER AT A TIME.
Opposing Viewpoints In Context This link opens in a new window
Some topics to browse here related to this class include Juvenile Justice Systems, Crime, Criminal Justice, Teen Homelessness, Poverty, School Discipline, and Cyberbullying to name just a few possibilities. Articles or essays labeled as "Featured Viewpoints" or "Viewpoint Essays" are preceded with an article analysis and information about the authors. These viewpoints represent an opinion. They are not unbiased.