Scholarly sources like scientific papers are written by experts, for other experts. If you don't know the background information, reading a scientific paper can feel like learning a new language. When you're new to a topic, looking at non-scholarly sources first can prepare you to read a scientific paper. Some good sources of background information are:
- Professor's lab websites
- Wikipedia
- Library databases
Google AI Overviews: You may have started to see Google's AI summaries at the top of your search results. If you see one while you're learning about a new topic, be sure to take a look at what the linked sources are saying. They don't always agree with the AI's conclusions!
Professor's Lab Websites
Many scientists have a website where they explain what they study in simpler terms. Try googling "[professor's name] lab" to see if your professor has one, too.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia isn't a scholarly source, but it can be a great way to learn the basics of a new topic. If you're not familiar with your experiment's methods, variables, or vocabulary, it can be a good place to start.
This video by Crash Course explains how Wikipedia can be a useful tool for starting your research:
Library Databases
In class, we talked about using the library databases to find scientific papers. But did you know that databases can have other types of sources, too?