Why RetractionCheck?

In the academic and research community, unintentional citation of retracted articles remains a significant concern. Studies have shown that many authors are unaware of the retraction status of the works they cite, leading to the propagation of invalid or flawed data. Although the Retraction Watch Database covers much of the retractions, there is no single repository encompassing all retracted publications. This issue is exacerbated by the fragmentation of retraction notifications and the lack of adequate information on the labelling of retractions across multiple publishing platforms and databases. To address this challenge, we have developed RetractionCheck, a free, non-profit service offering a federated search system that consolidates retraction data from various sources. Currently, our platform integrates publicly available APIs from the Retraction Watch Database (via CrossRef), PubMed, and Scopus.

We are actively seeking support and funding to incorporate additional APIs from Web of Science, PubPeer, and the full Scopus API, aiming to provide comprehensive coverage. Our user-friendly interface allows authors to upload and verify their reference lists in multiple formats, including BibTeX, IEEE, Chicago Manual of Style, MLA, and APA, ensuring compatibility with diverse citation management tools. By enabling researchers to cross-check their references efficiently, we strive to reduce the incidence of post-retraction citations, thereby enhancing the integrity of scholarly communication. We also advocate for integrating our service into peer review processes and editorial workflows as a proactive measure to identify and address retracted or questionable articles before publication. Through these efforts, RetractionCheck is committed to supporting the scientific community in maintaining rigorous research quality and trustworthiness standards.

Who We Are

RetractionCheck is a collaborative initiative dedicated to enhancing the integrity of scholarly research by providing a centralized platform for identifying retracted articles, especially from compiled reference lists. This project was conceived as part of the research endeavours of the following:

Hosted as a startup project at Sacred Heart College, RetractionCheck operates independently without external funding. Our mission is to support the scientific community by offering a free, user-friendly tool that enables researchers to verify the retraction status of articles, thereby promoting accuracy and trust in academic publications.

Data Sources & Credits

RetractionCheck aggregates retraction data from multiple trusted sources to ensure the veracity of scholarly references. Our platform integrates with various public and proprietary APIs to track retractions across disciplines. Below are the key data sources we utilize, along with their roles in retraction tracking and citation verification.

1. Retraction Watch Database

   The Retraction Watch Database (RWD) is a widely recognised repository that tracks retracted papers across various disciplines. It provides in-depth information on academic publications and reasons for their retraction. RetractionCheck uses RWD to cross-check references and alert users about retracted articles. This allows researchers to quickly identify problematic papers before citing them, even after generating a reference/works cited list. Through its CrossRef API, RetractionCheck retrieves DOI metadata, retraction notices, and related corrections issued by publishers. This ensures users can access verified, publisher- provided retraction information, allowing for accurate citation management.

2. PubMed

   PubMed, maintained by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), is a key resource for biomedical literature. Its API provides retraction metadata for articles indexed in the PubMed database, ensuring that researchers in medicine and life sciences can verify whether any cited work has been retracted. By integrating the PubMed API, RetractionCheck helps prevent the inadvertent citation of retracted biomedical research, which is especially critical in clinical and biochemical studies.

3. Scopus

   Scopus is a widely used multidisciplinary database that provides extensive citation data and bibliometric insights. At present, RetractionCheck is utilizing the Scopus public API, which allows for basic data retrieval but has limitations in data-fetching rates and metadata completeness. Due to these restrictions, some retraction information may not always be fully accessible in our system. In the next phase, we plan to integrate the full Scopus API, which will grant deeper citation tracking, complete metadata access, and real-time retraction updates. public API, which allows for basic data retrieval but has limitations in data-fetching rates and metadata completeness. Due to these restrictions, some retraction information may not always be fully accessible in our system. In the next phase, we plan to integrate the full Scopus API, which will grant deeper citation tracking, complete metadata access, and real-time retraction updates.

Future Integration

1. Web of Science

   Web of Science is one of the most authoritative citation indexing databases, covering many high-impact journals across disciplines. Its integration into RetractionCheck will enhance our ability to track retracted papers and their citation networks, ensuring that researchers have access to verified information about the reliability of their references. Currently, Web of Science’s API requires institutional licensing and additional funding, but once integrated, it will provide more comprehensive metadata and robust retraction tracking, ensuring that researchers and publishers have the most up-to-date information before citing a source.

2. PubPeer

   In addition to the above databases, we plan to integrate PubPeer, a post-publication peer review platform highlighting concerns about research integrity. By incorporating PubPeer’s API, we aim to alert researchers to articles flagged for ethical considerations or potential retraction, even before they are formally withdrawn.

The trademarks mentioned above are the proprietary properties of the respective owners. The trademarks mentioned on this website is solely for descriptive and informational purposes, referring to our integration with the services under them for retrieving retraction metadata.

All rights to these are reserved with their respective owners. Any references to these trademarks on this platform do not imply any ownership, partnership, or formal association with their owners. Users are encouraged to refer to the official websites of these services for their licensing terms, for further details on their data policies and for access restrictions.

Disclaimer

The information provided on RetractionCheck is intended for general information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the data presented, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the information on the website. Users are responsible for verifying the retraction status of articles through official channels and should not rely solely on the data provided here.

RetractionCheck utilizes publicly accessible APIs from PubMed, CrossRef, and Scopus databases to aggregate retraction information. However, we do not control these external sources and cannot guarantee the consistency or comprehensiveness of the data retrieved.

By using this website, you acknowledge and agree that RetractionCheck, its creators, and contributors shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided herein. This includes, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits.

We reserve the right to modify, update, or remove any part of this website without prior notice. Your continued use of the site constitutes acceptance of these terms and any changes thereto. If you do not agree with this disclaimer, please discontinue the use of RetractionCheck immediately.