Once you have identified your area of interest, begin your research by building up some general knowledge about your topic. Reference sources such as encyclopedias can help you in getting context and perspective on a topic. Entries will often also include a reference list or resources used by the author, which provide great leads to track down more information on your topic and will help you compile a word bank of major concepts, subtopics, and discipline- or topic-specific vocabulary. You can use this vocabulary for the next step in your research. You can also begin your reading by searching for articles in general academic databases and in subject specific encyclopedias
How to Use Wikipedia for Academic Research
Reading an article in Wikipedia is a legitimate start for your research and can be a helpful source for gaining familiarity with your topic, gathering key concepts, vocabulary, and issues related to your topic, locating scholarly articles, and kickstarting the process of helping you narrow your focus. Read this article published by Wikipedia that explains how using Wikipedia fits into a research project.