Finding basic information about your topic helps you to understand the broader context of your research. This is particularly important at the beginning of your research if you are unfarmliar with your topic or uncertain how to narrow the focus of the subject.
Background information can supply:
Types of resouces for background information : Encyclopedias, Guides, Handbooks, Manuals, etc.
A sampling of print books one would find when searching the online catalog by the subjects Education or Effective Teaching or Teaching--Handbooks, Manuals, etc. for background information. To find additional titles, use the Worldcat Discovery