What is a DOI?
A DOI (digital object identifier) is a unique number assigned by publishers to journal articles, studies and book chapters available online. When the DOI is included in a citation, it will be easier for a reader to locate the version of the work cited.
How will I recognize
a DOI number?
The DOI is made up of two components, a prefix and a suffix, separated by a forward slash.
Example:
10.311057/2511450135253
Prefix / Suffix
Where do I find a DOI
number?
The DOI number for an online article will usually be found on the home page. It may also be found at the top or end of the full-text version of an article available in a database.
Where is the DOI
placed in a citation?
The DOI should be added to the end of the citation, as follows:
Hobbs, T. (2000). Physicians should treat alcoholism as a disease. In J. Torr (Ed.), Current Controversies:
Alcoholism (pp. 219-223). doi: EJ3010217217
What if the article
has a different number?
Some databases use their own numbering systems for articles. For instance, Proquest uses an ID number, and
EBSCO uses an accession number (example: AN2530410).
These are not the same as a DOI (digital object identifier).
If you do not find a DOI number for the article or online publication, then use the URL for the database or the web page. See the following examples…
Database:
Mershon, D.H. (2005, November-December). Star Trek on the brain: Alien minds, human minds.
American Scientist, 86(2), 585. Retrieved from http://www.galileo.usg.edu
Web site:
Lynch, T. (2007). DS9 trials and tribble-ations review. Retrieved from Psi Phi:
Bradley’s Science Fiction Club Web site: http://www.bradley.edu/campusorg/
psiphi/DS9/ep/503.html