Subject specific reference materials can help you to gain broad-based knowledge of your field through vocabulary, factual information, additional references, and bibliographies.

Examples of useful reference titles:

CogNet. Provides a collection of searchable electronic texts for the cognitive and brain sciences containing works from the MIT Press, as well as information on new research, job listings, discussion groups and information on seminars and lectures.

Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology. A 4-volume e-reference published in 2010.

CREDO Reference. Dozens of online reference books from numerous publishers. Includes audio and images. One example is the Handbook of Research on the Education of Young Children. You can also browse by subject.

Encyclopedia of Adolescence. Features over 140 signed and peer-reviewed entries, including content on normative development, individual differences, cultural differences, social and emotional development, education, work, and psychopathology as they apply to adolescents.

Encyclopedia of Infant and Early Childhood Development (print only)

Encyclopedia of Language and Education. A 10-volume set, published in 2008. Fulltext online. 

Oxford Bibliographies Online. Includes almost 150 annotated bibliographies on topics pertinent to childhood studies. 

Sage Knowledge Encyclopedias. These e-encyclopedias cover a wide range of social sciences topics. One example is the Encyclopedia of Human Development.

Sage Research Methods Online. Full-text access to books, journals, and encyclopedias that cover the design and use of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods in the social and behavioral sciences.

SpringerLink Encyclopedias. These e-encyclopedias cover a wide range of social sciences topics. One example is the Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development.