Research Data Management - Research Guide

What is a DOI?

A digital object identifier (DOI) is a persistent identifier for a specific research output.

Using a DOI provides a unique, permanent, globally registered identifier and link to the resource. 

Traditional publications such as journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers usually have DOIs created and assigned by publishers through their editorial processes.

DOIs can also be assigned for non-traditional research outputs (NTROs), such as research datasets, reports, creative works, and technical standards and specifications.   

What are the benefits of a DOI?

• Permanent: A DOI provides a unique, permanent, globally registered identifier. A DOI for a resource does not change, though the digital location it points to may change with time.
• Discoverable: DOIs increase visibility and findability through Google Scholar, DataCite, Trove, and other platforms
• Impact: A DOI is citable; use of a DOI enables accurate recording of citations and altmetrics, such as online engagement, policy and media mentions.
• FAIR: DOIs are a key component of the FAIR principles, helping to make research output Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.

Murdoch University's Research Portal and DOI minting service

The process of creating and assigning a DOI to an object is known as DOI minting.

Murdoch University’s Research Portal is an authorised agent to mint DOIs via the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) DataCite DOI Service.

The Library can mint DOIs through the Murdoch Research Portal for:

• Research datasets
• Reports and other grey literature for which the institutional repository (Murdoch Research Portal) is the primary publication point

This service is not available for peer-reviewed journal articles, ephemera, book chapters, or teaching and learning material.

DOI minting criteria

• Murdoch-affiliated: Copyright/IP is owned by Murdoch University or a Murdoch-affiliated researcher, or permission has been granted to Murdoch University to publish
• Accessible: A full digital copy of the work is available to be added to the Portal open access or with a limited embargo. Datasets may have mediated access or be metadata-only records.
• Unique: The item must not already have a DOI assigned
• Citable: The output must be part of the scholarly record.
• Include, at a minimum, the following metadata: Title, Authors/Creators, Publisher (i.e. Murdoch University), Publication Year, and an Abstract/Summary

How do I obtain a DOI through the Library?

For eligible output types (datasets and reports), the "Reserve a DOI" button will be present when depositing the research output to the Research Portal.

If your output meets the DOI minting criteria above, click the "Reserve a DOI" button. Your reserved DOI will be displayed and can be added to the citation information in a final report document. 

Once the Library has approved the deposit, the DOI will be registered and link to the output in the Portal. Using the DOI when promoting the output will facilitate citation and impact tracking. 

If your output doesn't quite fit these output types but you believe it meets the criteria for DOI minting, please email the Library’s Research Repository at repository@murdoch.edu.au with details.