From a question to a usable result

Build a verifiable bibliography

Connect the question, document versions, identifiers and inclusion criteria without confusing discovery with reading.

Published 1 October 2026Illustrative examples

Editorial responsibility : Alexis R.

Prepare the task

A useful bibliography lets a reader locate each work and understand its relevance. It should also identify documents you could not examine.

1
Define scope
Record concepts, synonyms and inclusion criteria before selecting works. Search for findings contrary to your hypothesis as well.
2
Compare references
Record title, authors, date, identifier and version. A record, preprint and published article can represent different states.
3
Connect reading and citation
State what part was consulted and which point it supports. Mark inaccessible text instead of claiming its method was checked.

An example to adapt

Two records look identical but the files differ: compare dates and versions before removing a supposed duplicate.

The directory records identify publishers and link to their official services. Choose by task; inclusion does not guarantee an outcome.

Task, resource and verification
Task	Resource	Check
Compare a reference and DOI	Crossref	Check authors, title and associated object.
Explore open journals	Directory of Open Access Journals	Check the particular journal and article.
Find a deposited version	HAL	Read the record and identify the available version.

Use these fields in your own notes. This page does not collect your documents or personal details.

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Before drawing a conclusion

A synthesis based only on abstracts must disclose that limit; some decisions need a fuller examination.

Does a DOI prove study quality?

It helps identify and locate an object; methods and content still need appraisal.

Should I retain excluded works?

A list with reasons makes the selection easier to assess.