Academic Sources

There are many different ways books can be categorised. However, not all non-fiction books are academic in nature. For example, a popular science book using everyday language and written for a general audience would not be considered an academic source. You need to assess the academic integrity of a book before using it for your assignments and research. 

See below for a brief overview of the types of books you may encounter in your learning and/or research. Most of these books are available as e-books in the University of Exeter library.

Monographs are detailed, in-depth studies that focus on a specific subject or narrow area of research. Typically authored by one or two individuals, they offer a cohesive and comprehensive examination of their topic. Monographs may present original research or provide an extensive review and analysis of existing theories and literature. Aimed at an academic audience—such as researchers, students, or professionals in a particular field—they are often published by scholarly presses like Oxford University Press.

Edited books consist of chapters written by different authors and overseen by one or more academic editors. Each chapter typically explores a specific aspect of a broader topic, and can present a range of perspectives on a common theme. Contributors are usually academics or researchers, and the book is often published by academic presses such as Liverpool University Press. Editors generally provide an introductory chapter that outlines the overall subject and summarises the content and focus of each chapter that follows.

You can easily identify an edited book by checking the contents page to see if different authors have written each chapter.

Textbooks are primarily designed for students and individuals who are new to a subject. They provide broad coverage of a topic, synthesising information from various sources to offer a clear and accessible overview. As a result, textbooks are widely used in educational settings.

While textbooks are often considered academic sources—given that they are usually written by experts or scholars—they differ from peer-reviewed journals or edited books in that most textbooks are not peer-reviewed in the formal sense (although they do go through an editorial process) and they do not present original research. Instead, they serve as foundational resources for learning and understanding established knowledge within a field.