Background reading is an essential starting point to any research project. The purpose of background reading is to get an overview of your topic, and to begin to become acquainted with the key terms, names and events associated with your topic.
A good place to begin your background reading is to find and read an article in a subject-specific reference book. The Berntsen Library collects reference books in both print and online formats.
*Note: Reference books are considered tertiary sources and are not typically referred to or cited in research papers.
These subject-specific reference books are available at the Berntsen Library. They are worth a trip to the library in order to get a concise, authoritative overview of your Psychology topic as you begin your research. If you haven't yet decided on a topic for your psychology paper or project, browsing through these books can give you some good ideas.
The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology by 
Encyclopedia of Educational Psychology by 
Encyclopedia of Industrial and Organizational Psychology by The library collects subject-specific reference books in e-book format as well as print. Here is a list of e-reference works on the subject of psychology.
