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PolyU Library

The PolyU Research Data Repository

This guide introduces key features of the PolyU Research Data Repository.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

Some data repositories assign a persistent identifier to the deposited data to improve the discoverability of data. Digital Object identifier (DOI) is one of the persistent identifiers that permanently points to a webpage, a dataset, or other digital objects even its storage location is changed. 

DOIs are automatically assigned to datasets deposited in the PolyU Research Data Repository. Dataset re-users should cite your dataset with the DOIs for future readers' reference.

A DOI is reserved for you once you create a draft of a dataset, without having it published.  You may put this DOI in the manuscript of your articles for publication. The DOI will be activated once you publish you dataset.

 

The DOI could be found in the citation box on the dataset page:

Data Citation

Research data is an independent scholarly work that is citable. Users who reuse a dataset from our Repository can export the citation in different formats for reference management software to process.

Proper citation is required when any research data is reused. A citation acknowledges the creator and help the readers locate the source of the information.

Format and elements of a data citation vary among disciplines. The recommended elements in a data citation include:

  • Author: The creator(s) of the data set.
  • Publication Year: The date the dataset was made available.
  • Title: The name of the cited dataset.
  • Publisher/Distributor: The hosting organization of the data.
  • Version/Edition (If any)
  • Resource Type: e.g. dataset, data file, codebook, database.
  • Persistent URL/Identifier: e.g. DOI, Handle, ARK, PURL.
     

Citation Sample in APA Style

Rightsholder. (Year). Title of data set. (Version number) [Description of form]. Publisher. DOI or URL 

Adapted from American Psychological Association:

O’Donohue, W. (2017). Content analysis of undergraduate psychology textbooks (ICPSR 36966; Version V1) [Data set]. ICPSR. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36966.v1

 

For other citation styles, refer to the online guide created by The Digital Curation Centre (DCC).