Introduction

Last updated on 2026-04-22 | Edit this page

Estimated time: 12 minutes

Overview

Questions

  • Why might a paper be retracted?
  • How do paper retractions relate to integrity?
  • What do we mean by research integrity?

Objectives

  • Describe factors contributing to paper retractions
  • Describe components of research integrity
  • Explain how lack of integrity could lead to a paper retraction

Risks of retraction

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Pre-activity: The MMR vaccine retratction -> why was it retracted, and the ongoing impact of that research. What were the key issues, and how it relates to journal guidance.

Challenge

What are the risks?

Which of the following could result in a paper being retracted?

  1. Hallucinated citations
  2. Conflict of interest
  3. Falsified data
  4. Misleading conclusions

All of these problems could/should require the paper to be retracted.

Research Integrity

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Pre activity: Have learners explore the UKRIO guidance or the EU guidelines

Discussion

Tell Your neighbour: What does research integrity mean to you?

  1. Spend 2 minutes thinking about what research integrity means to you
  2. Share your understanding of research integrity with your neighbour
  3. Was anything different, or unexpected in their understanding?

Integrity and retractions

Preactivity: revisit MMR example, what were the integrity issues. Do they overlap with retraction scenarios

Discussion

Minute Paper: Integrity and retractions

Write for 1 minute on the topic of how a lack of integrity could lead to a paper retraction.

Key Points
  • Papers may be retracted by an author or the journal’s editorial team.
  • Integrity concerns may be a factor in retraction.
  • There are multiple dimensions to integrity.