Final answer:
Publications such as encyclopedias, databases, almanacs, and yearbooks serve as concise reference materials on technical subjects and factual data. The New Encyclopædia Britannica, databases like Opposing Viewpoints and Academic OneFile, and the World Almanac are examples of such resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Publications that are concise reference books on the technical aspects of a particular subject or compilation of factual data are typically encyclopedias, databases, almanacs, yearbooks, and specialized textbooks. For example, general encyclopedias such as the Random House Encyclopedia and the Columbia Encyclopedia provide brief overviews of a wide range of subjects. More comprehensive resources like the New Encyclopædia Britannica, which is available in 32 volumes and online, offer more detailed information.
For research purposes, databases such as Opposing Viewpoints in Context from Gale and Web of Science from Clarivate Analytics are extremely valuable. They index articles from newspapers, magazines, and scholarly journals, providing access to a multitude of resources including full-text periodical articles, statistical tables, and multimedia content. Government documents such as those found via the U.S. government's Catalog of U.S. Government Publications also serve as a vital source of accurate information.
For current statistics and annual data, publications like the Facts on File World News Digest and the World Almanac and Book of Facts are indispensable, providing not just contemporary data but also information that reflects historical contexts. In the realm of academic research, databases like Academic OneFile from Gale and Academic Search Complete from EBSCOhost offer comprehensive citations and abstracts across various disciplines including the physical sciences, technology, and social sciences.