Help Center
Find answers to common questions and learn how to use the platform
Getting Started
What is Public Opinion Platform?
Public Opinion Platform is an African-owned research publishing platform that empowers researchers to share, discover, and collaborate on research papers.
What We Offer:
- Free AFN-ID: Africa's own persistent identifier system (alternative to Western DOI)
- Open Access Publishing: Share your research with a global audience
- Peer Review: Transparent, community-driven quality control
- Analytics: Track your research impact (views, downloads, citations)
- Collaboration: Connect with researchers worldwide
- Blog Platform: Share research updates and insights
Quick Start Guide
Click "Register" and fill in your details. Takes 2 minutes.
Add your institution, research field, and ORCID (optional).
Click "Submit Paper" and upload your research.
Account & Registration
Creating an Account
Click "Register" button (top right) or visit /register
- Full Name: As you want it published
- Email: Valid email (will be verified)
- Password: Minimum 6 characters
- Institution: Optional
- Field of Study: Optional
Check your inbox and click the verification link
Publishing Research
How to Submit a Paper
Ensure you have: Title, Abstract (150-300 words), Full text, Keywords (5-10 terms), Author information
Click "Submit Paper" or go to /papers/create
- Title: Clear and descriptive
- Abstract: Brief summary (required, 150-300 words)
- Keywords: Comma-separated terms
- DOI/AFN-ID: Leave blank if you don't have one
Option A: Write directly in rich text editor
Option B: Upload PDF or DOCX file
Select relevant research categories (multiple allowed)
Preview your paper, then click "Submit Paper"
Paper Statuses Explained
| Status | Meaning | Who Can See | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft | Saved but not submitted | Only you | Edit, delete, or submit for review |
| Under Review | Submitted for peer review | You and reviewers | Wait for decision (2-4 weeks) |
| Published | Accepted and public | Everyone | Share, track metrics, update (with versioning) |
| Rejected | Not accepted | Only you | Address comments and resubmit |
| Revisions Required | Needs changes | You and editors | Make requested changes and resubmit |
AFN-ID System
What is AFN-ID?
AFN-ID (African Persistent Identifier) is Africa's own system for uniquely identifying research papers.
- African-owned and controlled
- Free for African researchers (vs. $200-500/year for DOI)
- Compatible with DOI (can cross-reference)
- Persistent (never changes once assigned)
- Resolvable (always points to your paper)
AFN-ID Format
Namespace
Regional prefix
Content type
Year
Sequential ID
Regional Prefixes:
| Prefix | Region | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | West Africa | Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, etc. |
| 2000 | East Africa | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, etc. |
| 3000 | Southern Africa | South Africa, Botswana, etc. |
| 4000 | North Africa | Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, etc. |
| 5000 | Central Africa | DRC, Cameroon, Gabon, etc. |
| 9000 | International | Non-African researchers |
| 8000 | Partner Institutions | Partner universities |
How to Get AFN-ID
AFN-ID is automatically assigned when you publish
After peer review approval, your paper gets published
Your AFN-ID appears on the paper immediately
ORCID
What is ORCID?
ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a globally recognized identifier for researchers.
Why You Need ORCID:
- Disambiguation: Distinguishes you from researchers with similar names
- Linking research: Connects your publications to you
- Streamlined submissions: One-time profile, auto-populates forms
- Career tracking: Maintains record across institutions
- Publisher requirement: Many journals now require ORCID
How to Get ORCID
Go to orcid.org
Click "Register for a free ORCID iD" and fill in your details (takes 2 minutes)
Check your email and verify
Go to Profile → Edit Profile → ORCID field → Enter your ORCID iD
Discovering Research
How to Search for Papers
Enter keywords, paper title, or author name in the search bar
- Category: Filter by research area
- Year: Filter by publication year range
- Sort: Relevance, Latest, Most Viewed, Most Cited
- Use specific terms: "machine learning" not just "learning"
- Use quotes for exact phrases: "public opinion"
- Combine terms: "machine learning AND Africa"
Understanding Paper Metrics
| Metric | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Views | Number of times paper page was viewed | Shows interest in your research |
| Downloads | Number of times PDF was downloaded | People are reading your full paper |
| Citations | Number of papers citing this paper | Your research is influencing others |
| Bookmarks | Number of users who bookmarked | People want to return to your paper |
| Rating | Average reviewer rating (1-5 stars) | Quality assessment by peers |
Collaboration
Following Researchers
Stay updated with researchers in your field.
Click their name on any paper or search for them
Button changes to "Following"
Their new papers appear in your activity feed
Commenting on Papers
Engage in academic discussions.
Navigate to the paper you want to comment on
Find the "Comments" section at the bottom
Write your comment and click "Post Comment"
- Be respectful and professional
- Provide constructive feedback
- Stay on topic
- No spam or self-promotion
Technical Support
Troubleshooting
Can't Log In?
- Click "Forgot Password" on login page
- Enter your email and check inbox for reset link
- Try a different browser if issues persist
Upload Fails?
- Check file size (max 50MB)
- Ensure file is PDF or DOCX format
- Try a different browser
- Clear browser cache
Search Not Working?
- Check spelling of search terms
- Try broader search terms
- Remove filters and try again
Contact Support
support@publicopinion.org.ng
Response: 24-48 hours
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