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Business Research

Example Questions That Can Be Answered Using This FAQ

• How do I do research on the web for my business class?
• I need information on (sales, marketing, quality, management, etc.) Where can I find articles on that topic?

Business research can be tricky on the Web. Part of the problem is that people who need to do business research are either affiliated with a school of some kind or a private company, so the people who put business information on the web assume that people who do business research can afford to pay for it. Further, the Web does not yet have a lot of full-text journals or trade magazines.

There are, however, sites that do try to put together the best of business research.

Rutgers University Library has a section of their website devoted to doing business research online.

Most states in the United States have online digital libraries with business links. These digital libraries are only accessible through a verified login, which is usually a current library card and password that can be obtained at your local public library. You can find each state's digital library by visiting the IPL's State Digital Library subject collection and looking for the business section of each state's digital library.

A good place to start business research is at your local public library. Public libraries often have small business resources that include business reference books, sample plans, directories and subscription-only databases. General Business File and ABI Inform are good for general research. If you are looking for company or personal information you might want to try Reference USA, Global Access. Some libraries will also have access to Lexis-Nexis, a large news and information database with both general and topic-specific material. Most of these databases have print counterparts with similar information, so be sure to ask for both if you go to the library, and don't be discouraged if you can't find what you are looking for in one place.

To find your library, a good directory is LibWeb. This directory offers an easy-to-use way to find public, academic and special libraries by state and outside the U.S.

Some freely accessible options for business information include:

• Home Business Research - a commercial site that is made for people who are interested in starting their own business and are beginning to do the research from home or their current job.
• The Small Business Portal - the English equivalent of Home Business Research. Both of these sites deal with the more practical side of business research, concentrating on topics like finance, accounting, management and marketing.
• Hoover's Online - offers access to valuable data related to over 43,000 top companies and 600 industries actively covered by Hoover's editorial staff (enhanced services are premium based).
• BNET Business Network - offers a choice of freely accessible articles (limited option), or you can pay a fee for extensive access. B/Net offers a growing amount of business resources including Business Publications (some are offered for free) and Industries.
• There is also a growing number of resources from a service called About.com. About is an online resource that uses experts in a diverse range of fields. These sites have a large amount of information, organized by subject. You may also contact the guide directly and ask them a question if you do not find your answer on the web site. Two that pertain to business research are:
  • Guide to Marketing
  • Guide to Management

Finally, the IPL also offers a collection of free, online business serials, a list of business associations and good reference sites - all reviewed by members of our staff.