Characteristics of Retracted Research Articles about COVID-19 vs Other Topics

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Xiaoting Shi, Yale University; Alison Abritis, Retraction Watch; Rujvee P Patel, Yale University; Mikas Grewal, Yale School of Medicine; Ivan Oransky, Retraction Watch; Joseph S Ross, Yale School of Medicine; Joshua Wallach, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-01-01
• Publisher: 2022 Shi X et al. JAMA Network Open.
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: 2022 Shi X et al. JAMA Network Open.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.34585
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JAMA Network Open
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 10
• Start Page: E2234585
• End Page: E2234585
• Keywords: Scientific Misconduct; Humans; COVID-19; Journal Impact Factor
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Environmental Sciences

Abstract

Manuscript retractions represent attempts to officially withdraw published papers or posted preprints that contain errors, fraud, or other kinds of misconduct. Retractions have increased in both number and prominence over the past 2 decades.1,2 More recently, concerns have been raised about the number of retracted COVID-19 studies.3 While these retractions may be due to greater external scrutiny of COVID-19 literature, little is known about the potential differences between retracted COVID-19 studies and studies on other topics. Accordingly, in this cross-sectional study, we compared author characteristics and reasons for retractions of COVID-19 and non–COVID-19 research articles.