Background information is not peer-reviewed, however it does give you greater insight into your topic and can be cited in addition to your peer-reviewed sources, when appropriate.
Remember: Basic facts do not need to be cited. Example: World War II ended in 1945.
These are some reference databases that provide background information:
Let's be realistic that everyone finds information about every kind of topic on Wikipedia.
But you never cite Wikipedia.
So is there any scholarly way that Wikipedia can be used? Yes.
But you never cite Wikipedia.
Go to the References section for the entry. Evaluate the References cited. Verify that the entry is accurate by going to the original sources, whether they be articles, books, or websites.
And never ever cite Wikipedia.
