The data was compiled for the publication by Thomson Reuters. Its analysis also showed although there were 22 retractions in 2001, but that number jumped to 139 in 2006 and again to 339 last year. Year-to-date retractions for this year are at 210, according to the report.
Another study published in The Journal of Medical Ethics showed retractions due to fraud, not just errors, increased seven-fold from 2004-2009.
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The consequences of retractions abound: It can lead to mistrust among researchers who are used to relying on scientific literature for their own research or practice. It can also lead to millions of wasted private or public dollars and, notably, patient harm.
The Wall Street Journal report follows a recent incident involving a German anesthesiologist who is accused of fabricating his research. Since those accusations emerged, 18 journals announced they would remove nearly 90 of his studies from their publications. Experts argue the alarming data could merely be a reflection of improved error detection. Others say researchers may be reacting to an ever-increasing competitive environment, according to the report.
Read the Wall Street Journal report about research retractions in scientific journals.
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