This week at Retraction Watch featured revelations about a frequent co-author of the world’s retraction record holder, and a prison term for fraud. Here’s what was happening elsewhere:
A researcher in Brazil is taking responsibility for accidentally mixing up images in three papers in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The corresponding author on the three papers told us the mistake happened because the studies were conducted simultaneously, and relied on one computer. There’s a side note to these retractions: The co-author list on … Continue reading Researcher logs three retractions for image duplications — two of which with familiar co-authors
Science has retracted a high-profile immunology paper after a probe concluded the corresponding author had committed misconduct. The paper — which initially caught media attention for suggesting a protein could help boost the immune system’s ability to fight off tumors — has been under a cloud of suspicion since last year, when the journal tagged … Continue reading High-profile Science paper retracted for misconduct
An economics journal has corrected a paper for the second time for failing to cite previous studies — and said in a separate note that it no longer plans to publish similar errata, with rare exceptions. In September 2015, we reported on the first erratum for “Incentives for Creativity” — a paper that analyzed ways … Continue reading We’re not “citation police:” No more errata for omitted citations, says economics journal
Every year, academics get thousands of spam emails inviting them to submit manuscripts or attend conferences — but don’t bother asking to “unsubscribe” for Christmas. Spoiler alert, for those of you planning to read the rest of this post: It doesn’t make much of a difference. That’s according to the conclusions of a study published … Continue reading Spam me once, shame on you. (Academic) spam me 3000 times…?
“Retractions are part and parcel of academic and scientific publication. Court ordered retractions are not.” So ends a judge’s September 30, 2016 opinion dismissing a case brought in 2014 by Andrew Mallon, a former Brown University postdoc, alleging that his advisor and former business partner, John Marshall, had published a paper in 2013 in PLOS Biology that should … Continue reading Judge tosses case, saying that court-ordered retractions are not part of scientific publication
An investigation into the lab of a prominent cancer researcher in British Columbia has revealed nearly 30 acts of misconduct. As we detail in our latest feature for Science, the investigation, at the University of British Columbia (UBC), uncovered 29 instances of scientific misconduct, 16 of which were characterized as “serious,” according to university … Continue reading Prominent cancer researcher committed nearly 30 acts of misconduct
Earlier this year, an environmental journal told an activist group it was going to retract a study about the safety of roofing products made from asbestos. Now the journal has let the authors withdraw the paper — a different process, according to the journal. The move follows multiple letters from critics asking to retract a study, which … Continue reading A journal said it would retract a paper about asbestos — now it’s “withdrawn.” What changed?
Peer review has numerous problems: Researchers complain it takes too long, but also sometimes that it is not thorough enough, letting obviously flawed papers enter the literature. Authors are often in the best position to know who the best experts are in their field, but how can we be sure they’ll choose someone who won’t … Continue reading Journal’s new program: Choose your own reviewers – and get a decision in days
The week at Retraction Watch featured a refreshingly honest retraction, and a big win for PubPeer. Here’s what was happening elsewhere: