Reasons for Retraction: Scientific Misconduct Explored

Fabrication

Involves inventing data or results and reporting them as genuine, which is a serious breach of ethical standards and research integrity.

Falsification

Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.

Plagiarism

Presenting someone else's ideas, results, or words without giving appropriate credit, which undermines the originality and credibility of the published work.

Ethical Breaches: Fabrication, Falsification, and Plagiarism

Fabrication

Researchers create fictitious data, often to support a desired hypothesis or outcome. This undermines the very foundation of scientific inquiry.

Falsification

Researchers manipulate or alter existing data to achieve a specific result, leading to distorted conclusions and potentially harmful consequences.

Plagiarism

Researchers present another person's work as their own, violating copyright laws and undermining the intellectual contributions of others in the field. This includes both text and figures.

What is a Retraction? Defining the Fundamental Concept

Official Retraction

A retraction is the official withdrawal of a published article from the scientific literature by the journal editor or publisher. It signifies that the article contains serious flaws or invalid data that undermine its findings.

Notification of Errors

Retractions serve as a public notification to the scientific community and the broader public that the published work cannot be relied upon due to identified errors or misconduct.

Maintaining Integrity

The retraction process is essential for maintaining the integrity and reliability of the scientific record. It ensures that flawed or fraudulent research does not continue to influence scientific knowledge or practice.