RETRACTION
: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NEWS
: What are retractions and why do they matter?
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS ?
Retractions in scientific literature are increasing
due to misconduct, errors, and the influence of paper mills.Retraction cases
highlight a crisis in research integrity, with significant implications for
trust in scientific findings.Addressing the causes and improving oversight are
essential for maintaining the credibility of academic work.
Retraction:
- Formal withdrawal of a
published scientific paper due to errors, misconduct, or fraud.
- Ensures correction of the
scientific record and preserves research integrity.
Retraction
Index:
- Measures the frequency of
retractions relative to total published articles.
- Calculated by multiplying
retractions by 1,000 and dividing by total publications.
- Higher-impact journals tend
to have more retractions.
Reasons
for Retraction:
- Correct significant errors
or misconduct to maintain accountability and scientific integrity.
Impact of
Retraction:
- Damages reputations, funding
opportunities, and institutional credibility.
- Creates mistrust in
scientific literature and research reliability.
Prevention:
- Strengthen peer review and
oversight in publishing.
- Provide ethics training for
researchers.
- Use AI to detect issues in
submitted papers.
- Shift academic focus from
quantity to quality of research outputs.
Source : https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/glass-beads-on-the-moon-suggest-it-had-volcanoes-more-recently-than-thought/article68677222.ece