monograf

Monograf is a term used in several languages to refer to a monograph, a detailed scholarly work focused on a single subject or aspect of a subject. It is usually authored by one person or a small team and is intended to provide an in-depth treatment rather than a broad survey.

Characteristics include a tightly defined scope, a thorough literature review, and often original research or a comprehensive synthesis. The work is typically structured with chapters, a methodology section, conclusions, and a bibliography, and it frequently includes an index. Monographs are usually published as stand-alone books or as part of a scholarly series and may undergo peer review or editorial evaluation prior to publication.

Monographs differ from edited volumes, which collect chapters by different authors, and from theses and dissertations, which are tied to degree requirements. They also differ from textbooks or handbooks, which aim at instruction for broader audiences and may cover a wider range of topics.

Historically, the word derives from the Greek monos meaning one and graphein meaning to write. In library and information science, a monograph is a non-serial publication that concentrates on a single subject. In the modern publishing landscape, monographs appear in print and digital formats, with catalog records that denote them as standalone works.

Impact and access: Monographs often serve as major sources of specialized knowledge and can influence scholarship and teaching within a field. They are widely used in research libraries and by scholars, and access to them depends on publishers, funding, and library acquisitions.