Handbooks are edited volumes in which each chapter offers thorough introductions to topics and a critical survey of the current state of scholarship, creating an original conception of the field and setting the agenda for new research. Handbook chapters may be similar to review articles or "state of the field" articles in structure in that they review the key issues and cutting-edge debates, as well as provide arguments for how those debates might evolve.
Use these encyclopedias and reference sources to look up definitions of key concepts, trace the history of scholarship on a topic, and get oriented to research questions in the field. Entries are written by scholars in the field and usually include citations to important works related to the concept.
Parts of this guide were authored by Abby Scheel. Revisions and updates by Adam Beauchamp in 2019.
Except where otherwise noted, the content in this guide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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