Thing 8: DOIs and citation metrics for data

What are Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) and how do they support data citation and metrics for data and related research objects?

  • Getting started: what are DOIs and why are they critical for accurate citation metrics?
  • Learn more: delve into altmetrics (and donuts!)
  • Challenge me: what about minting DOIs for software, algorithms and grey literature?

Getting started

DOIs, data citation and metrics

Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) are unique identifiers that provide persistent access to published articles, datasets, software versions and a range of other research inputs and outputs. There are over 190 million DOIs in use.

Each DOI is unique but a typical DOI looks like this: https://doi.org/10.4225/08/50F62E0D359D5

DOIs can be used to collect citation metrics about the use of a dataset or article.

  1. Start by watching this short  video Persistent identifiers and data citation explained (4.5 min) from Research Data Netherlands. It gives you a succinct, clear explanation of how DOIs underpin data citation.

  2. Have a look at the poster below (opens to an A4 size) - follow the arrows to see how DOIs are attached to data sets.

    data citation poster

  3. This CSIRO data record shows how DOIs are used. Click on this DOI to ‘resolve’ the DOI and be taken to the record: https://doi.org/10.4225/08/50F62E0D359D5 Click on both the Description and Files tabs and note how many times the DOI is used in this data record. It will give you some idea why DOIs are given such prominence.
  4. This same record has been syndicated to Research Data Australia. Click on the Cite icon on the upper left of the record (under the green button Access the Data). Then click on the DOI in the data citation. No matter where the DOI appears it always resolves back to its original dataset record to avoid duplication, i.e. many records, one copy.
  5. DOIs can also be applied to grey literature, such as reports like the Haefliger’s Cottage Investigation with this DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4227/11/50459F7BD4D0B in the NSW Archaeology Online: Grey Literature Archive.

Learn more

Who cares about (alt)metrics?

Alternative metrics or “altmetrics” count the number of views, number of downloads, social media “likes” and recommendations associated with a dataset (or any resource). Because of their immediacy, altmetrics can be an early indicator of the impact or reach of a dataset; long before formal citation metrics can be assessed.

  1. Start by looking at the altmetrics for this phylogenomics article published in Science. Note the usage statistics, including number and pattern of downloads, for this article since it was published in November 2014.
  2. Now click on the “donut” or the link to ‘See More Details’ to see the wealth of information available.
  3. Look also at the associated data in Dryad noting that the data has been assigned a DOI. Can you see how many times the data has been downloaded and the record viewed (scroll down to the bottom of the record)?

By way of comparison, as of early November 2018:

  • the same dataset had been cited once in Web of Science Data Citation Index
  • the article had been cited 690 times in Web of Science (requires log in)

Consider: Do you think altmetrics for data have value in academic settings?  Why, or why not?

Challenge me

Minting DOIs for research data

The ARDC DOI service enables research organisations to assign Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to research datasets and collections as well as well as associated software, workflows, models and grey literature. The service is intended for use by publicly funded Australian  research organisations and is available as a machine-to-machine or manual service.

  1. Start by reading an overview of the ARDC DOI service and perhaps the ARDC Guide to DOI system and research data ARDC DOI service technical documentation.
  2. Consider also the need for guidelines around when a DOI will be minted, by whom and how DOIs will be managed to ensure long term persistence. You might like to look at these examples of institutional guidelines for DOI minting:
    1. Australian Antarctic Division Data Policy
    2. Griffith University Digital Object Identifiers: Introduction and Management Guide

Want to know more about the ARCD DOI minting service for data, and now grey literature?

Webinar: ARDC expanded DOI service: scope, requirements and FAQs.

Watch the recording or go through the slides.

Consider: What do you think are the critical issues to ensure the persistence of DOIs over a number of years?

Do you have a question? Want to share a resource?

Keep on going to the next thing: Licensing data for reuse or return to all the things