A Guide to DOIs and URLs in APA 7 Bibliography > 자유게시판

• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

What Exactly is a DOI?

A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is not just a random string of numbers and symbols. It is a persistent alphanumeric code given to a online object—like a journal article, report, or dataset—to provide a stable link to its location on the internet. Think of it as a virtual Social Security number for a scholarly work. Even if the URL at which the article is stored changes (e.g., the journal changes publishers or updates its website), the DOI will always resolve to the current location. This permanence is what makes it the preferred method for citing electronic sources in APA style.

DOIs usually look like:

• 
  
• Older format: doi:10.1037/arc0000014
  
• Newer, preferred format (a functioning URL): https://doi.org/10.1037/arc0000014
  

APA 7 requires using the URL format whenever possible.

What Regarding URLs?

A Uniform Resource Locator (URL), or web address, is the path to a particular page or file on the World Wide Web. In contrast to a DOI, a URL is not permanent. Websites are frequently restructured, pages are moved, and content is taken down. A URL that works today might become a dead link tomorrow. This fragility is why DOIs are heavily favored over URLs for academic work. But, for sources that lack a DOI (e.g., online reports from groups, press releases, certain PDFs), you must use a URL.

The Golden Rule: Always Prefer a DOI

The number one rule in APA 7 for citing every electronic source is: If a DOI is available, use it. If no DOI is available, then and only then should you use a URL. Your initial step when creating a reference should always be to search for a DOI. They are typically found:

• 
  
• On the top page of an online journal article, close to the publication information.
  
• In the source's citation/reference data, frequently provided by the database.
  
• In the database record for the article (e.g., in EBSCOhost, PsycINFO, PubMed).
  
• On the landing page for the article on the publisher's website.
  

You can additionally use a DOI resolution website like CrossRef to find a DOI by entering the article title or author information.

How to Format DOIs and URLs in Your Reference List

APA 7 introduced major changes to the formatting of DOIs and URLs. The previous conventions of using "doi:" or "Retrieved from" have been eliminated.

Formatting a DOI

Present the DOI as a working hyperlink. The correct format is:

• 
  
• https://doi.org/xxxxx (e.g., https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000345)
  

Do not include the label "DOI:" or "doi:" before the number. Simply present the complete URL. The hyperlink should be clickable, but it should not be underlined (this is typically the default in word processors). The font color is usually blue.

Formatting a URL (When No DOI Exists)

When you must use a URL because no DOI is available, follow these rules:

• 
  
• Provide a direct URL that links directly to the source. Avoid database URLs (e.g., from EBSCOhost, JSTOR, ProQuest). These are often temporary and require a login, making them useless to most readers.
  
• Use a hyperlink for the URL, just like with a DOI.
  
• Omit the phrases "Retrieved from" or "Accessed from." This is a major change from APA 6. In APA 7, you just place the URL at the end of the reference without any preceding text.
  

Special Case: The only time you use "Retrieved from" is when you are citing a source that is likely to change over time, like a wiki, map, or software. For stable webpages, reports, and articles, leave out "Retrieved from."

Real-World Examples and Scenarios

Let's look at how these rules apply in actual reference entries.

Example 1: Journal Article with a DOI (Most Common)

Reference: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Real Example: Chen, L., & O'Malley, R. (2023). Predicting economic trends using machine learning algorithms. Journal of Economic Forecasting, 45(2), 112-130. https://doi.org/10.1017/jef.2023.12

Note the simple use of the DOI URL at the end, with no extra punctuation or labels.

Example 2: Journal Article without a DOI (From a Journal Website)

If an article from a journal's website has no DOI, link directly to the article on the journal's site.

Reference: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue), page range. URL

Real Example: Albright, G. (2019). Re-evaluating the Hawthorne effect in modern field studies. Journal of Applied History, 8(1), 45-59. http://www.jah.org/vol8/iss1/albright.html

Example 3: Report or Document from an Organizational Website (No DOI)

This is a common scenario for government and NGO reports.

Reference: Organization Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of report (Report No. XXX). URL

Real Example: World Health Organization. (2021, March 30). WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic 2021: Addressing new and emerging products. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240032095

Again, note the lack of "Retrieved from."

Example 4: The Exception: A Wiki (Where "Retrieved from" is Used)

For content that changes, you include the retrieval date.

Reference: Title of entry. (Year, Month Day). In Wikipedia. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Real Example: Cognitive dissonance. (2023, October 25). In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance

Pro Tips and Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• 
  
• Database URLs are forbidden: Never, ever use the long, session-specific URL from your university library's database. These links are temporary and will not work for anyone else. Always find the DOI or the journal's official URL.
  
• Use a hyperlink: Always make your DOI or URL a live, clickable hyperlink. This is a requirement of APA 7. The default blue, underlined style in programs like Microsoft Word is perfectly acceptable.
  
• No period after the URL: Do not place a period at the end of the DOI or URL. This prevents the period from being accidentally hyperlinked and makes the link easier to copy and paste.
  
• Shorten lengthy URLs with care: If a URL is excessively long and complex, you may use a shortening service like Bitly. However, it is always better to use the most direct and permanent URL possible. A DOI is always preferable to a shortened URL.
  
• Check your links: Before submitting your paper, double-click every single DOI and URL in your reference list to ensure they resolve to the correct source. This is the best way to catch typos.
  

Conclusion

Correctly handling DOIs and URLs is a seemingly small but extremely important part of APA 7 style. By remembering the golden rule—always prefer a DOI, and only use a URL as a last resort—and by using the simplified formatting rules (clickable hyperlinks, no "Retrieved from"), you ensure that your reference list is not only formally correct but also maximally functional. Your readers will thank you the effortlessness with which they can access your sources, and your work will IGNOU project sample a high level of professionalism and meticulousness. In the online scholarly landscape, providing precise and persistent links is the key act of attributing your sources and enabling the progress of knowledge.