Subject encyclopedias are an excellent starting point for finding scholarly work, because they:
Most databases allow you to refine your search. Look for how to narrow your search by scholarly or peer-reviewed resources.
Here are a few examples:
Disciplinary databases are designed for finding materials in a particular subject area. Different disciplines have different standards for what scholarship looks like. Browse our subject-specific research guides to learn what databases focus on your area of study.
You can use Wikipedia to get background information and should use the citations provided to find good sources. Don't cite Wikipedia as a scholarly source, because you can't tell who wrote the entry.