Use reference materials like these to gather background information on a topic. This will help you to identify important thinkers, theories, and debates in the field. Pfau Library carries reference materials that are both printed and electronic.
Think of keywords, or important words describing each aspect of your topic, such as:
"domestic abuse" children
Tip: Put quotation marks around words you want to search as a phrase, such as "death penalty" or "capital punishment"
The catalog includes both printed books and ebooks. Note the floor location, call number, and status in order to retrieve a printed book.
Once you find an interesting book, look at its Subject Headings. If they're on target, click on them to find more books with the same subject, or use them as keywords in your search.
Below are just a few of the many Subject Headings you might find useful: