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Tips for Finding DOIs

What is a DOI, how to find them in an article and how to use them to get a citation.

What is a DOI?

A DOI, or Digital Object Identifier, is a string of numbers, letters and symbols used to permanently identify an article or document and link to it on the web. A DOI will help the reader of an article easily locate a document from the citation.

How to Find DOIs

In most recently published articles, the DOI will be printed with the article itself, usually on the first page somewhere, or in the header or footer. Generally, DOIs will be available for scholarly articles published after 2011. Some articles before 2011 have them but many don't. You can see how to grab the DOI from EBSCO, Gale or ProQuest

DOI Tips

  1. You can turn any DOI into a URL by adding https://doi.org/ before the DOI. For example, https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2014.891142
  2. You can use the technique in the first tip to check that the DOIs in your references or work cited list to make sure they lead to the articles, or use the DOI Search option.  
  3. If the database where you found an article does not provide a citation in the style you want, you can use the DOI and Zoterobib to get one

EBSCO DOI

In EBSCO databases you can grab the the DOI at the bottom of each entry on your result list if it is available. Generally, DOIs will be available for scholarly articles published after 2011.  

Alternatively you can grab it from the article page under DOI or from the citation option under most citation styles. 

EBSCODOI

Gale DOI

In Gale databases you can grab the the DOI near the top the article page if it is available. Generally, DOIs will be available for scholarly articles published after 2011.

Alternatively you can grab it from from the citation option under most citation styles.

Gale DOI

ProQuest DOI

In ProQuest databases you can grab the the DOI near the top the article page if it is available. Generally, DOIs will be available for scholarly articles published after 2011.

Alternatively you can grab it from from the citation option under most citation styles. 

PorQuest DOI