Skip to Main Content

COM 297 - Communication Research Methods

Research guide for students in COM 297 to assist with your coursework.

Reference Sources for Background Research

When you begin researching, consulting a reference book (like an encyclopedia or handbook) to get an overview of the topic is often quicker and easier than trying to gather background information from various articles and websites.  

Reference books can provide definitions, descriptions and explanations and identify keywords and terms for searching for articles in databases or for books in the Catalog about the topic.

Entries in reference books often include a list of sources for further reading.  In the early stages of  your research, tracking down these cited sources will lead you to relevant books and articles and save you time. 

Selected Reference eBooks

Many books are now available with online full text as ebooks. Listed below are some online reference books in the field of Communication.  For links to more ebooks see Milner's Reference (General/Multi-Subject) page or search Milner's Catalog and limit the search to "Electronic."

Selected Print Reference Books