As well as its two chief publications, the Code of Practice for Research and the Procedure for the Investigation of Misconduct in Research, UKRIO is producing supplementary guidance on particular issues relating to good practice in research or addressing misconduct and poor practice.
This will take the form of a series of Information Notes, to be published in PDF form on our website. The first in the series is now available and further titles will be published in due course. UKRIO welcomes suggestions of topics or issues for inclusion in Information Notes.
UKRIO and the Committee on Publication Ethics have produced an information note to raise awareness of the proper criteria for retractions in academic journals and remind researchers that good practice in research includes reporting concerns about the conduct of research, including its publication and dissemination.
An essential part of good practice in research is the honest, accurate and timely publication of its findings, commonly in academic journals. Since editors have a responsibility for ensuring the reliability of the material they publish, it may sometimes be necessary to retract a publication, for reasons including honest error and research misconduct.
It is important that all involved in research are aware of what circumstances might justify retracting a publication, their professional responsibility to report such circumstances promptly to the relevant journals and the reliance of journals on research organisations and employers to investigate allegations of misconduct promptly and in a thorough, fair and transparent manner.
The Information Note can be downloaded here:
UKRIO IN-01 Guidance for researchers on retractions in academic journals
UKRIO would like to thank the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for its assistance in producing this Information Note. Further information on COPE’s vital work can be found here.