What Is a Retraction?
Looking for the full method? Read the detailed guide: What Is Research Misconduct?.
A retraction is a notice issued by a journal, usually after investigation, that an article should no longer be relied upon because of serious problems such as misconduct, major errors or unreliable data. COPE guidelines describe when and how journals should retract.
Example
Invented for teaching: A journal retracts a paper after discovering that data were fabricated. The article remains online with a prominent notice so that readers and databases can see its status.
Common misunderstanding
Not every retraction means misconduct: some result from honest errors that invalidate findings. Also, a retracted paper should not be cited as evidence; if you must cite it, label it as retracted.
Learn more
See What Is Research Misconduct?
References and further reading
Related reading
This page is general educational information about research methods. It is not medical, legal or regulatory advice; follow your institution's ethics board and your target journal's instructions.