APA 6th Edition DOI Issue

Case1096
The APA 6th edition indicates that the DOI reference should be "doi:xxxx" However the Word plug in with firefox displays this as "http://doi.org" How can this be fixed?
  • adamsmith
    The url format is correct and recommended according to the apa's supplement for electronic resources
  • Case1096
    Pages 191 and 198 of the APA 6th edition manual indicates it should be DOI:
  • adamsmith
    edited October 28, 2015
    as I say, they changed this in the manual for electronic resources. There's a copy currently online at http://www.misericordia.edu/uploaded/documents/library/Books/APAStyle.pdf?1436800286903 though not sure how much longer.
    http://www.apa.org/pubs/books/4210512.aspx
    has the official version.
    See page 11 onwards. You can also, I believe, find relevant articles on the APA Style's blog.
  • Case1096
    Actually the elecontronic version states it should be referenced as "http://dx.doi.org/xxxxx" So the software is missing the "dx" portion if you are following that rule.
  • adamsmith
    edited October 28, 2015
    http://doi.org/10.xxx is the preferred format by CrossRef, the agency handling DOI redirection. We checked with APA editors and they said it's OK to use that and it may be reflected in future updates to the manual.
    APAs point is that the DOI link should work reliably, which Zotero's version does.

    My last answer on this. If you're interested in more details, there are several threads on this with more details including the original correspondence with APA.
  • zuphilip
    Especiall this comment https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/47374/doi-in-apa-6edition/#Item_5 with the official comment from APA style support.
  • Case1096
    Please see the below response from the APA style expert help desk

    Dear Scott:

    Both “doi:xxxx” and “http://dx.doi.org” are equally correct. Writing “http://doi.org” would be incorrect and is not a format that is used by CrossRef (see their DOI formatting guidelines: http://www.crossref.org/02publishers/doi_display_guidelines.html). You can find more information about how to use the DOI system in this APA Style Blog post: http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2014/07/how-to-use-the-new-doi-format-in-apa-style.html.

    Best regards,


    David Becker
    APA Style Expert
  • noksagt
    edited October 29, 2015
    You obtained differing (and less-nuanced) guidance than the last person who contacted their style experts (see the link up-thread, where they state http://doi.org is acceptable and the current style guide predates changes to doi.org's systems).

    The date on the crossref page David Becker links to is March 2013. This is older than the current advice by doi.org. This is dated March 27, 2015 and can be found at http://www.doi.org/factsheets/DOIProxy.html
    Users may resolve DOI names that are structured to use the DOI system Proxy Server (http://doi.org (preferred) or http://dx.doi.org).
    It is consistent with http://www.doi.org/doi_handbook/3_Resolution.html#3.7.3 (dated August 2014).

    Note also that, even then, the CrossRef page allows for short DOIs that use the now-preferred (doi.org) server.
  • bwiernik
    edited October 31, 2015
    I have also seen numerous accepted articles in APA journals use the doi.org server, so it is apparently acceptable in practice.
  • adamsmith
    in case there were any doubts here is CrossRef's executive director:
    https://twitter.com/epentz/status/660066468445442048
    and DataCite's technical director:
    https://twitter.com/mfenner/status/657443969735987200
    on the subject. (CrossRef says both are OK & guidelines will change in the future, DataCite says they prefer doi.org)
  • Case1096
    Crossref is not the APA. Can you please give us an option that complies with the APA or let us know how we can fix the formatting to comply with the APA 6th edition.
  • adamsmith
    find
    <text variable="DOI" prefix="http://doi.org/"/>
    change to
    <text variable="DOI" prefix="http://dx.doi.org/"/>
    or
    <text variable="DOI" prefix="doi:"/>
    depending on what you want.
    General instructions:
    https://www.zotero.org/support/dev/citation_styles/style_editing_step-by-step

    (note that as per bwiernik--the resident psychologist--APA does accept the currently used format in practice, even if not all of the "style experts" are up to date on that...).
  • DWL-SDCA
    FWIW, Profs at my university are demanding that papers with dx.doi be resubmitted with the refs preferred newer shorter DOI link string. These folks treat APA style as though it part of a strict religious practice. At least, this time, grades are not being reduced and the deadlines are extended if the original deadline was met and the only change to the report is the newer DOI format.

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