Journals need a new paradigm for article retractions: Opinion

In a recent editorial for Nature, Retraction Watch founder Ivan Oransky argues that journals and researchers need to emphasize the importance and efficiency of retractions for academic quality. According to Oransky, retracting a paper remains a slow process, as admitting to accepting flawed papers may threaten a publisher’s reputation or open them up to litigation from researchers who are accused of errors or wrongdoing. However, Oransky explains that many researchers unwittingly cite retracted papers, since journals struggle to notify researchers of retractions. He states that publishers should incorporate reliable retraction checks into their submission and review processes, support efforts to find errors in papers, and treat retractions and the correction of honest errors as something to be celebrated. Nature Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.