Research Retraction and Its Communication

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive overview of retraction research. It introduces retraction as a self-correcting mechanism of science involving various stakeholders and a complicated process operating centrally through retraction notices authored by different retraction stakeholders. It presents the main reasons for retraction, discusses the consequences of retraction for various stakeholders, identifies contributing factors to the unsatisfactory handling of retractions, and provides suggestions on how to handle retractions more effectively and efficiently. By way of conclusion, the article recommends directions for future research on retraction. This up-to-date overview of retraction research is an accessible source of information for those who are new to the phenomenon of retraction or unfamiliar with the extant research on retraction. It aims to advance the scientific community's understanding of research retraction and its communication.

What to communicate in retraction notices?

“…While 'rotten apples' who intentionally game the academic publishing system are not honest brokers and true stakeholders of the enterprise of science, other individual and institutional entities (e.g., whistle-blowers, journal authorities, research performing organizations, and research funding organizations) should take the lead in making efforts to maximize the transparency of retractions and retraction notices. To encourage them to make such a move, due recognition should be given to them for their contributions to effective retraction handling (Xu & Hu, 2023b). In particular, since journal authorities have the final say in what information available to disclose in retraction notices, it is now time to consider how to legally empower them to make it mandatory that a full story about each case of retraction should be told in every retraction notice.…”