How persistent identifiers can save scientists time

Area of Science:

• Information Science
• Bibliometrics
• Research Management

Background:

• Effective research dissemination requires seamless data sharing across digital systems.
• Persistent identifiers (PIDs) are essential for uniquely identifying research entities.
• Current PIDs facilitate search, discovery, recognition, and collaboration in research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review key persistent identifiers (PIDs) used in research.
• To demonstrate the application of PIDs in the research landscape.
• To explore how combined PIDs enhance research integrity and infrastructure.

Main Methods:

• Review of prominent PIDs in research: Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for publications and ORCID iDs for researchers.
• Analysis of a proposed PID for research organizations.
• Examination of current use cases and combined applications of PIDs.

Main Results:

• DOIs uniquely identify publications, enabling citation tracking and access.
• ORCID iDs provide researchers with a persistent, unique identity, improving recognition and discoverability.
• A new PID for research organizations is proposed to enhance institutional representation and data linkage.

Conclusions:

• The strategic use of PIDs, including DOIs, ORCID iDs, and organizational PIDs, is vital for robust research infrastructure.
• Combining PIDs strengthens data accuracy, facilitates collaboration, and builds trust in scientific endeavors.
• PIDs are fundamental to navigating and validating information in the digital research environment.