• For undergraduates: Using unreliable research in your papers can lead to misleading arguments and lower your credibility. If you are concerned, check to make sure your article has not been retracted.
• For researchers: Citing a retracted article can weaken your research, and missing a retraction in your field may mean building on flawed or fraudulent findings.

What we can learn from retractions

Retractions aren’t just about mistakes—they reveal how knowledge is created, tested, and revised. Understanding them helps us think critically about information and expertise.

• Why research goes wrong: Errors, fraud, or bias can lead to retractions, this shows us why evaluating sources is crucial.
• How research self-corrects: Retractions remind us that knowledge is not fixed, but evolves through review and revision.
• Peer review & expertise: Retractions provide an opportunity for us to reflect on the role of experts in assessing credibility and the value of opportunities for ongoing review to help strengthen research. 
• The lasting impact of bad research: Retracted studies are still cited—how does misinformation persist in scholarly communication?
• Public trust in research: Major retractions (e.g., the vaccine-autism study) have shaped public perceptions of research and science. How do we navigate authority and expertise?
• The pressures of publishing: The push to “publish or perish” affects research practices. How can responsible scholarship be supported?

Looking at retractions deepens our understanding of how information is created, shared, and challenged—helping us become more informed researchers and readers.

Finding retracted articles

Some databases and publishers clearly label retracted articles; others may not. The tools below can help you identify and avoid citing retracted research.

Retraction Watch

The most widely used tool for checking retractions across disciplines.

• Need to know: 
  • Tracks withdrawn research papers and maintains a comprehensive searchable database that offers a broad view of publication integrity
  • Run by the Center for Scientific Integrity, which promotes transparency in scholarly publishing
  • Includes corrections, expressions of concern, and reinstatements.
• Types of information you will find: 
  • The Retraction Watch Leaderboard
  • Top 10 most highly cited retracted papers
  • Retractions by Nobel Prize winners
  • Retraction Watch Hijacked Journal Checker tool
• Note: Retraction Watch shares and tracks information beyond retractions, including papers and peer reviews with evidence of ChatGPT writing, the Retraction Watch Mass Resignations List, and the Retraction Watch Blog
• Search Tips: See Retraction Watch Database User Guide for tips on advanced searching, filters, and interpreting results.

Zotero

This free and open-source citation management tool integrates data from the Retraction Watch Database to alert you if any articles in your Zotero library have been retracted.

Find out more about how it works.

LibrarySearch

• Retracted articles are not consistently labeled in LibrarySearch: An article labeled as retracted is likely accurate, but those lacking the label may need to be checked for retraction in another source. The only indication might be if the word “retracted” appears in the article title.
• To check for retractions, always cross-reference with trusted sources like the Retraction Watch Database or the publisher’s website.
• Examples of a retracted article in LibrarySearch: Retraction—Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia...

Google Scholar

• Status: Does not consistently label retracted articles. Google Scholar may index retraction notices, but it rarely flags the original article as retracted. Often, the only clue is if the word “retracted” appears in the article title.
• Examples of retracted articles in Google Scholar: Retracted articles may still appear without a retraction notice.

Search tips:

• Try using keywords like "retracted article" OR retracted OR "retraction notice" to find relevant records.
• Use quotation marks to search for exact phrases. 
• Use OR to include different terms in one search.
• Always check the full article or citation details—some results may discuss retractions in general rather than being retracted themselves.

Example retracted article RETRACTED: Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children

Searching in research databases

Some databases let you filter results to show retracted or corrected articles. Look at the databases help menu or talk to your subject librarian to find out more. 

Examples of a few:

• CINAHL: In the Publication Type box select → “Corrected Article”
• PubMed: After you do your search see the Article Type filter on the left and select the relevant filter for your need, such as Retracted Publication, Corrected and Republished Article or other relevant article type [sample PubMed retraction search]
• APA PsycInfo: In the Document Type click on → “Retraction” or “Erratum/Correction”

Even with these tools, it’s good practice to double-check with the original publisher or Retraction Watch if you're unsure.

More information

• Retraction Guidelines - Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
• National Science Foundation -  Key regulations. 

Retraction Watch News Feed

The most comprehensive resource for tracking retracted articles. Many other tools rely on this database for their retraction alerts.