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Self-correction in science: The effect of retraction on the frequency of citations.
- Source :
- PLoS ONE; 12/7/2022, Vol. 17 Issue 12, p1-14, 14p
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- We investigate the citation frequency of retracted scientific papers in science. For the period of five years before and after retraction, we counted the citations to papers in a sample of over 3,000 retracted, and a matched sample of another 3,000 non-retracted papers. Retraction led to a decrease in average annual citation frequency from about 5 before, to 2 citations after retraction. In contrast, for non-retracted control papers the citation counts were 4, and 5, respectively. Put differently, we found only a limited effect of retraction: retraction decreased citation frequency only by about 60%, as compared to non-retracted papers. Thus, retracted papers often live on. For effective self-correction the scientific enterprise needs to be more effective in removing retracted papers from the scientific record. We discuss recent proposals to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- CITATION analysis
RETRACTORS (Surgery)
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 160653835
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277814