Citation & DOI Information

How to cite posters from PosterArchive and understanding DOI assignment

1. What Is a DOI?

DOI stands for Digital Object Identifier. It is a standardized, persistent identifier assigned to scholarly and digital objects, including journal articles, datasets, conference papers, and other research outputs.

A DOI consists of a prefix (assigned by CrossRef or other registration agencies) and a unique suffix created by the repository. It appears in the format https://doi.org/10.XXXXX/xxxxx

Key characteristics of DOIs:

  • •Permanent: Once assigned, a DOI does not change, even if the content is moved or the URL changes
  • •Globally Unique: Each DOI is unique and refers to exactly one object
  • •Resolving: DOIs can be resolved (clicked) to locate the resource online, ensuring long-term access
  • •Standardized: DOIs follow international standards and are recognized by researchers, institutions, and indexing services worldwide

2. Why Posters Receive DOIs on PosterArchive

Conference posters represent legitimate scholarly output. Researchers present original findings, methodologies, and conclusions at academic conferences. These posters often contain significant intellectual contributions that merit documentation and citation.

DOI assignment on PosterArchive serves several important purposes:

  • •Citability: Researchers can formally cite conference posters in publications, improving the visibility and impact of conference research
  • •Persistence: DOIs provide stable, permanent links that remain valid even if URLs change or the hosting platform evolves
  • •Discovery: DOI registration enables posters to be indexed by academic search engines and databases, increasing research discoverability
  • •Longevity: DOI registration ensures conference research is preserved and accessible beyond the initial conference event
  • •Impact Tracking: DOIs enable tracking of poster citations and usage metrics, providing authors with evidence of research impact

It is important to note that PosterArchive functions as an archival repository, not as a journal or publisher. We do not conduct peer review, and DOI assignment does not imply endorsement or validation of research quality.

3. When a DOI Is Assigned

DOIs are assigned on a specific schedule in the submission workflow:

After Approval: A DOI is issued only after the poster has successfully completed administrative review and been approved for publication.

Upon Publication: The DOI is registered with CrossRef and becomes active at the moment the poster is published on PosterArchive.

Not for Drafts or Rejected Submissions: Submissions in draft form or those that are rejected do not receive DOIs.

Not for Withdrawn Posters: If a poster is withdrawn after publication, the DOI persists (see section 9) but no new submissions receive DOIs from withdrawn content.

Authors will be notified of their DOI by email immediately after publication.

4. What the DOI Represents

It is essential to understand what a DOI assigned by PosterArchive does and does not represent:

What the DOI does represent:

  • •A stable, citable reference to a specific poster archived on PosterArchive
  • •The version of record—the poster as it was submitted and approved at the time of publication
  • •Metadata (author, title, conference, year) associated with the poster at the time of registration
  • •A persistent link that researchers can use to cite and reference the poster

What the DOI does not represent:

  • •Peer review or editorial endorsement of the research
  • •Validation or certification of scientific quality or accuracy
  • •Publication in a peer-reviewed journal or formal publication venue
  • •An obligation for other researchers to accept or agree with the research findings

5. How to Cite a Poster from PosterArchive

Conference posters should be cited using standard academic citation formats. The DOI must be included in the citation. Below are examples in common citation styles:

American Psychological Association (APA)

Smith, J., Johnson, A., & Williams, R. (2023). Machine learning applications in climate modeling. Poster presented at the International Conference on Climate Change Research, Denver, CO. https://doi.org/10.xxxxx/xxxxx

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Smith, John, et al. "Machine Learning Applications in Climate Modeling." Poster. International Conference on Climate Change Research, Denver, CO, 2023. PosterArchive, https://doi.org/10.xxxxx/xxxxx.

Chicago Manual of Style (Notes and Bibliography)

Smith, John, Andrew Johnson, and Robert Williams. "Machine Learning Applications in Climate Modeling." Poster presented at the International Conference on Climate Change Research, Denver, CO, 2023. https://doi.org/10.xxxxx/xxxxx.

Vancouver (Numeric)

Smith J, Johnson A, Williams R. Machine learning applications in climate modeling. Paper presented at: International Conference on Climate Change Research; 2023; Denver, CO. https://doi.org/10.xxxxx/xxxxx.

Note: Replace "10.xxxxx/xxxxx" with the actual DOI. Each poster landing page on PosterArchive displays the correct DOI for that poster.

6. Use of Poster DOIs in Publications

Posters from PosterArchive may be cited in a variety of scholarly contexts:

  • •Journal articles (as background, related work, or comparative research)
  • •Preprints and working papers
  • •Book chapters and dissertations
  • •Grant applications and research proposals
  • •Meta-analyses and systematic reviews
  • •Conference proceedings

Publisher Acceptance: Whether a publisher or institution accepts poster citations in reference lists depends on that publisher's editorial policies. Some journals and institutions explicitly accept poster DOI citations, while others may have specific guidelines about including conference presentations in references. Authors should consult the target publication's citation guidelines before submitting work that includes poster citations.

Most academic publishers recognize DOI-based citations and treat them as valid references, especially when accompanied by the conference name and year.

7. DOI Limitations and Scope

It is important to understand the specific scope and limitations of DOI assignment on PosterArchive:

Not Peer Review: The assignment of a DOI does not constitute peer review. PosterArchive conducts administrative review of submissions but does not evaluate the scientific quality, validity, novelty, or significance of the research.

Not Journal Publication: DOI assignment on PosterArchive does not make a poster equivalent to a peer-reviewed journal publication. PosterArchive is an archival repository, not a journal or publisher. Posters should not be cited as if they were journal articles or formally published research.

Archival Function: The primary purpose of PosterArchive is to preserve and archive conference posters as historical scholarly record and to facilitate discoverability and citation. This is distinct from the publishing or peer-review functions of journals.

Citation Context Matters: When citing a poster, the citation should clearly identify it as a conference poster, not as a journal article or publication. The conference name, year, and location should be included to provide readers with appropriate context.

8. Metadata Accuracy and DOI Integrity

When a poster is published and assigned a DOI, the associated metadata is registered with CrossRef. This metadata includes the poster title, authors, affiliations, conference information, publication year, and DOI itself.

Author Responsibility: Authors are responsible for ensuring that all metadata provided at submission is accurate and complete. This information becomes part of the permanent archival record and is used for indexing and discovery.

Metadata Changes: Once a DOI is assigned, major changes to metadata may be restricted or require special processing. Minor corrections to author names, affiliations, or abstract content may be requested and implemented as metadata updates.

Corrections and Errata: If significant errors are discovered in metadata after publication, authors may request corrections by contacting PosterArchive support. Corrections will be reviewed and implemented if they address factual inaccuracies. A notice of correction or errata may be published alongside the poster record.

DOI Integrity: The DOI itself never changes. Updates to metadata are reflected in the CrossRef record and on the poster landing page, but the DOI remains the same, preserving citation stability.

9. Withdrawals and DOI Persistence

In some cases, authors may request that a published poster be withdrawn from PosterArchive. Withdrawal requests are handled according to PosterArchive policy and CrossRef standards.

DOI Permanence: A DOI assigned to a poster is permanent and never reassigned or deleted. This permanence is essential to the integrity of scholarly citation.

Withdrawn Posters: If a poster is withdrawn, the DOI persists in the CrossRef system. The DOI will continue to resolve, but the landing page or content will indicate that the poster has been withdrawn.

Withdrawal Notices: A withdrawal notice will replace the poster content on the landing page, explaining the reason for withdrawal if appropriate. Researchers who have cited the poster are thus able to see the withdrawal status.

Reasons for Withdrawal: Posters may be withdrawn for reasons including author request, copyright violation, plagiarism, or ethical concerns. Withdrawn posters are no longer accessible for download, but the DOI record remains for citation integrity.

10. Related Policies and Resources

For more information about PosterArchive policies and best practices, please refer to the following resources:

Questions About Citations or DOIs?

For inquiries regarding citation formats, DOI assignment, or related matters, please contact us at support@posterarchive.org