Why Has the Number of Scientific Retractions Increased?

Summary

Background The number of retracted scientific publications has risen sharply, but it is unclear whether this reflects an increase in publication of flawed articles or an increase in the rate at which flawed articles are withdrawn. Methods and Findings We examined the interval between publication and retraction for 2,047 retracted articles indexed in PubMed. Time-to-retraction (from publication of article to publication of retraction) averaged 32.91 months. Among 714 retracted articles published in or before 2002, retraction required 49.82 months; among 1,333 retracted articles published after 2002, retraction required 23.82 months (p<0.0001). This suggests that journals are retracting papers more quickly than in the past, although recent articles requiring retraction may not have been recognized yet. To test the hypothesis that time-to-retraction is shorter for articles that receive careful scrutiny, time-to-retraction was correlated with journal impact factor (IF). Time-to-retraction was significantly shorter for high-IF journals, but only ∼1% of the variance in time-to-retraction was explained by increased scrutiny. The first article retracted for plagiarism was published in 1979 and the first for duplicate publication in 1990, showing that articles are now retracted for reasons not cited in the past. The proportional impact of authors with multiple retractions was greater in 1972–1992 than in the current era (p<0.001). From 1972–1992, 46.0% of retracted papers were written by authors with a single retraction; from 1993 to 2012, 63.1% of retracted papers were written by single-retraction authors (p<0.001). Conclusions The increase in retracted articles appears to reflect changes in the behavior of both authors and institutions. Lower barriers to publication of flawed articles are seen in the increase in number and proportion of retractions by authors with a single retraction. Lower barriers to retraction are apparent in an increase in retraction for “new” offenses such as plagiarism and a decrease in the time-to-retraction of flawed work.

Key Points

• 1The number of retracted scientific papers has increased significantly in recent years
• 2Time-to-retraction has decreased, indicating journals are acting more swiftly
• 3The rise in retractions involves both authors with single retractions and those with multiple
• 4Increased scrutiny and changes in retraction practices are likely contributing factors
• 5Instances of research misconduct have been prevalent, but often under-reported.

Related articles

• Preserved topography, lateralization, selectivity, and functional connectivity of the language network in older brains

  This study investigates the structural and functional changes in the language network of older adults compared to younger individuals using precision fMRI techniques. It focuses on how these changes affect language processing and executive functions in relation to healthy aging.

• Evolutionary associations among pollen scopa structure, floral breadth and eusociality in Halictidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

  This paper explores the evolutionary relationships between pollen scopa structure, floral breadth, and eusociality in Halictidae bees through a comparative analysis of 207 species. The research aims to uncover the ecological and morphological factors influencing social behavior among these bees.

• On the Origin of Mitosing Cells

  This paper presents a theory on the origin of eukaryotic cells, proposing that certain organelles, like mitochondria and plastids, originated from free-living prokaryotic cells through a series of endosymbiotic events.

• Architects of Order: The History & Evolution of Biological Taxonomy

  This document explores the history and evolution of biological taxonomy, detailing key figures and their contributions to the classification of life forms from ancient times to the pre-Linnaean period.

• Novel molecular requirements for CRISPR RNA-guided transposition

  This study investigates the molecular requirements for CRISPR RNA-guided transposition, revealing novel sequence determinants and interactions necessary for DNA integration by CRISPR-associated transposases (CASTs).