Search Results for: elsevier

Mass resignations hit psychotherapy journal after publisher replaced editors

The majority of the editorial board of a top psychology journal have resigned en masse after the publisher replaced the journal’s editors without warning. Also departing are the honorary editor and statistical consultants. The journal, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, is a Karger title and “the official journal of the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine and the … Continue reading Mass resignations hit psychotherapy journal after publisher replaced editors

Paper retracted after author told journal study was ‘not actually performed’

Nearly 20 years after the publication of a paper on phytoestrogens in postmenopausal women, one of the authors said the study had never been performed, according to a recently published retraction notice. The retraction is the second for two of the authors. It comes after sleuth Ben Mol and his colleagues initially discovered data similarities … Continue reading Paper retracted after author told journal study was ‘not actually performed’

‘Foolish mistake’: Guest editor loses three articles published in his own special issues

An Elsevier journal has pulled three articles after the publisher determined an author had been “involved in the peer review and decision making” as managing guest editor of the special issues in which they appeared.  The author, botany researcher Vijay Kumar of Lovely Professional University in Punjab, India, told Retraction Watch his apparent involvement in … Continue reading ‘Foolish mistake’: Guest editor loses three articles published in his own special issues

More than three decades after misconduct ruling, researcher’s IQ test paper is retracted

A psychology journal has retracted an article on IQ tests nearly 50 years after publication — and more than 35 years after an investigation found the lead author had fabricated data in several other studies.  Stephen Breuning, a former assistant professor of child psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, gained notoriety after a 1987 National … Continue reading More than three decades after misconduct ruling, researcher’s IQ test paper is retracted

Sage slaps more than 100 papers from one journal with expressions of concern

The Sage journal American Surgeon has issued a mass expression of concern for 116 articles.  The expression of concern states the journal “was made aware” of “concerning author activity” on the articles. Sage is no stranger to mass editorial actions. In 2023, the publisher pulled large tranches of papers at least three times, and last … Continue reading Sage slaps more than 100 papers from one journal with expressions of concern

Weekend reads: ‘Lack of informed consent’ in DNA data; protecting the ‘prey’ of predatory journals; another ivermectin-COVID-19 retraction

Dear RW readers, can you spare $25? The week at Retraction Watch featured: Our list of retracted or withdrawn COVID-19 papers is up past 450. There are more than 50,000 retractions in The Retraction Watch Database — which is now part of Crossref. The Retraction Watch Hijacked Journal Checker now contains more than 300 titles. … Continue reading Weekend reads: ‘Lack of informed consent’ in DNA data; protecting the ‘prey’ of predatory journals; another ivermectin-COVID-19 retraction

The 14 universities with publication metrics researchers say are too good to be true

More than a dozen universities have used “questionable authorship practices” to inflate their publication metrics, authors of a new study say. One university even saw an increase in published articles of nearly 1,500% in the last four years.  The study, published January 5 in Quantitative Science Studies, “intends to serve as a starting point for … Continue reading The 14 universities with publication metrics researchers say are too good to be true

Weekend reads: The top 10 stories of 2024; 31 novels about scientific misconduct; how retractions become weaponized

Dear RW readers, it’s not too late to make an end-of-year donation to support our work. The week at Retraction Watch featured: Our list of retracted or withdrawn COVID-19 papers is up past 450. There are more than 50,000 retractions in The Retraction Watch Database — which is now part of Crossref. The Retraction Watch Hijacked Journal Checker now contains more … Continue reading Weekend reads: The top 10 stories of 2024; 31 novels about scientific misconduct; how retractions become weaponized

A look back at 2024 at Retraction Watch, and forward to 2025

If 2024 felt like a whirlwind, you’re not alone. It was another busy one here at Retraction Watch, too. Some numbers to tell that story: A sampling of a few other key accomplishments this year:

Journal that published viral study on black plastic removed from major index

Chemosphere, the Elsevier title which in September published an article on “unexpected exposure to toxic flame retardants in household items” such as black plastic cooking utensils, has been removed from Clarivate’s Web of Science index in its December update.  The article, “From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about … Continue reading Journal that published viral study on black plastic removed from major index