How to NOT cite retracted papers
The number of retractions in 2023 was a record high. In January of this year, close on the heels of an exposé by a self-declared research integrity sleuth, the renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute announced that six papers by its researchers would be retracted. The same month, Applied Nanoscience, a Springer Nature journal, retracted 34 papers, Cureus retracted 56 papers, Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science retracted 80 papers … I could go on! Looking at the slew of retractions at the start of this year, one wonders if new records will be broken in 2024!
Papers are typically retracted for various reasons, such as data fabrication, plagiarism, other forms of ethical misconduct, or significant errors (honest though they may be). As an author, if you cite such articles in your research paper, this compromises the reliability and trustworthiness of your research paper as well. The arguments and evidence that you may use are no longer reliable, potentially weakening your own findings and undermining the validity of your paper. Unfortunately, retracted articles continue to be cited long after they have been retracted, often inadvertently.
As a researcher, how can you stay on top of things and ensure that you don’t cite retracted papers by mistake? In this post, I share guidelines to help you ensure that the papers you cite are valid, reliable, and up to date.
Verify and read what you cite
Verify the status of each paper in your reference list before finalizing your manuscript. A paper might have been validly cited in a secondary source but might have very recently been retracted. Be critical of sources, particularly older papers, as they may be more prone to retractions. Cross-check references with reputable sources (journal/publisher websites, bibliographic indexes) to ensure the accuracy of the information. Read retraction notices carefully to understand the reasons behind the retraction and to identify alternative studies.
Once the status is clear, remember to read the paper in full. A common tendency is to include references that have been cited by others even if one has not read them firsthand. Reading the sources you cite carefully is vital to maintaining the integrity of intellectual discourse. If you find it tedious to read so much, try planning out your reading schedule, dividing articles to be read in manageable chunks, or even using a text-to-speech option and listening to articles.
Stay informed
The number of retractions continues to follow an upward trend. To keep a tab on these developments, regularly check sources like Retraction Watch Database and publisher websites for updates on retractions. Follow blogs by research-integrity experts and whistleblowers, prominent ones being Science Integrity Digest by Elizabeth Bik and For Better Science by Leonid Schneider.
Use updated bibliographic tools
Employ reference-management tools that integrate with databases to automatically update citation information. Tools like CrossRef’s REST API can be used to check for retraction status. Check that the reference-management software you use includes a consistently updated database of retractions. Some reference-management software programs have integrated Retraction Watch Database data to give retraction alerts in your reference lists, e.g., EndNote and Zotero. In Zotero, you will see alerts for retracted items in your reference list. Meanwhile, Scite.ai, which uses data sources other than Retraction Watch Database, includes a Reference Checks function that lets you check for disputed or retracted articles within a list of references. It is a good idea to use different tools for a wider coverage and better efficiency in picking up multiple problematic references.
Include retraction statements if needed
What if you are writing about retractions, and you need to cite retracted papers to drive home an argument? When discussing work related to retracted papers, you should clearly indicate any such inclusions as “retracted” in the reference section so that readers can be made aware of the retraction status. A retracted paper that you cite would appear as “Author AA, et al. RETRACTED: Title of article. Journal name [year], vol, pp” in your reference list. Be sure to adhere to guidelines provided by publishers and journals regarding the identification and handling of retracted papers.
Promote awareness about citation practices in your team
Where available, make use of training and educational resources about the implications of retractions and how to avoid citing retracted papers. Collaborate with institutional librarians, who can help you stay informed about retractions and proper citation practices. Have open conversations and build a culture of awareness within research teams about the importance of checking for retractions.
By incorporating these strategies, you can contribute to the improvement of the reliability and credibility of scientific literature, while safeguarding yourself from perpetuating the errors or fraud of retracted literature.
Concluding thoughts
Citing retracted papers can undermine your credibility as a researcher and affect the validity of your work. A vigilant approach toward avoiding the citation of retracted papers can help safeguard the integrity of scholarly discourse and maintain the credibility of academic pursuits. By staying informed about retractions, verifying sources meticulously, and practicing responsible citation within our academic community, you can help uphold the principles of academic rigor and ethical scholarship.
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