How does ICPSR assign version numbers to studies?

Note: This information applies to studies created and updated using ICPSR’s single stream platform, which is being introduced as of October 2025.

Version numbers are unique identifiers used to track changes to a study over time, for example, V2.0 or V1.2. Every ICPSR study is assigned version 1.0 when it is first published. The version number increases every time the study is updated.

Major and minor versions

Depending on the type of change, a study may be assigned a new major or minor version.

A new major version (e.g., Version 1.0 → Version 2.0) is created when there are substantive changes to the study, including:

• adding or changing data or documentation files;
• changes that affect how the study should be cited (e.g., updates to Title or Principal Investigator metadata fields).

Major version updates result in an updated study citation and creation of a version-specific digital object identifier (DOI).

A new minor version (e.g., Version 1.0 → Version 1.1) is created for metadata-only changes that do not affect the citation. For minor versions, the study citation and DOI remain unchanged.

Version history

All versions are documented in the Version History section on the study home page. This includes:

• version number;
• version-specific publication date;
• a summary of changes from the previous version.

Version numbers and DOIs

Every major version has its own unique DOI. For example:

• https://doi.org/10.3886/E230322V1: study 230322, version 1.0
• https://doi.org/10.3886/E230322V2: study 230322, version 2.0

If there are multiple minor versions under the same major version, the DOI points to the most recent minor version. For example:

• https://doi.org/10.3886/E122982V4: study 122982, version 4.1

A DOI without a version number always points to the most recent published version of a study, major or minor. For example:

• https://doi.org/10.3886/E122982: study 122982, version 4.1

Changes to version numbering over time

Curated ICPSR studies that predate ICPSR’s single stream platform use only major versions (e.g., Version 1, Version 2). ICPSR staff assign new version numbers for substantive changes to a study. The version number does not change for minor updates, and there are no minor versions.

Self-published ICPSR studies that predate ICPSR’s single stream platform allowed for both major and minor versions. Changes by depositors were always assigned a new major version. Repository administrators, at their discretion, could choose to make any given update a major or minor version.