InfoSkills for Social and Behavioral Sciences

Types of scholarly books

Scholarly books are written for an expert audience and aim to present research findings. Although not peer-reviewed, books published by university presses and reputable academic publishers undergo a rigorous editorial process. They are typically categorized into four main types: 

• Monographs [NL: monografieën] are books focused on a specific, specialized topic, typically written by one author, though they may also be authored by multiple contributors.
  • Dissertations [NL: proefschriften] are a specific type of monograph. These are extensive scholarly works created to earn a PhD, the highest academic degree, from a university.
• Edited books [NL: geredigeerde boeken] are compilations of articles or chapters on a specific topic, typically written by various authors and compiled by one or more editors. The editor is responsible for revising the chapters for consistency in length, grammar, and style, ensuring they are cohesively organized.
• Conference proceedings [NL: gebundelde conferentieverslagen] are collections of papers presented at conferences, congresses, or symposiums, typically published in book form. These papers may also appear as a special issue or supplement in a journal. Keep in mind that not all conference papers are published in books or journals. Those not traditionally published are classified as "grey literature" and are often available online. [For more information on grey literature, visit the "Non-traditionally published sources: Grey literature" page below.]
• Textbooks are reference books organized by topic, designed for use as course materials for students. They offer an overview of key knowledge in a particular field and are usually written at an accessible reading level. We mention textbooks because students may be allowed to cite from them, but it's important to note that they are not considered true scholarly books. Academics typically don't cite them.

Reference works

Reference works (also known as background sources) are valuable for quickly obtaining authoritative facts, information, or a general overview of a subject.

• Dictionaries 
  —can assist in defining unfamiliar terms or concepts. They also offer synonyms, which can help you find alternative terms for your database searches. For more accurate definitions related to your field of study, use specialized dictionaries. Keep in mind that digital dictionaries often provide more current information.
• General encyclopedias
  —offer brief and accessible summaries of a wide range of topics.
• Subject encyclopedias
  —focus on a specific topic (e.g., Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement, Encyclopedia of Leadership) and offer more detailed information than general encyclopedias.
• Handbooks
  —provide summaries of what is known about a particular subject, organized into distinct topics.

Dictionaries, (subject) encyclopedias, and handbooks are especially helpful for the initial stages of research, giving you a general understanding of a topic. However, it's important to note that reference works don’t typically include the most recent developments in a subject area.

Where to find dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks 

The TiU library offers online access to a wide range of dictionaries and encyclopedias, which can be found on the library's Encyclopedias and dictionaries page.

You can find handbooks in the library catalog. Simply enter a keyword followed by "handbook" in your search, then filter the results to show only recent books. [See Module D for detailed information on searching in the catalog.]