Retracted publications in autism research are mostly concerned with ethical misconduct

Area of Science:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
• Scientific Publishing Ethics
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Increasing autism prevalence necessitates reliable research for diagnosis and intervention.
• Rising retraction rates in scientific literature pose challenges to evidence-based practices.
• Understanding retracted publications is vital for maintaining an accurate and current body of scientific evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize retracted publications within autism research.
• To analyze the time intervals between publication and retraction.
• To evaluate journal adherence to ethical reporting guidelines for retractions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of five major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Retraction Watch) was conducted.
• Data from retracted articles in autism research published up to 2021 were analyzed.
• Key characteristics, time to retraction, and retraction notice presence were examined.

Main Results:

• Twenty-five retracted articles were identified and analyzed.
• Ethical misconduct was the predominant reason for retractions, surpassing scientific error.
• Retraction times varied significantly, ranging from 2 to 144 months.

Conclusions:

• The time lag from publication to retraction has notably decreased since 2018.
• Retraction notices were present for 76% of the articles, while 24% lacked them.
• Insights from retracted publications offer learning opportunities for researchers, publishers, and librarians to enhance research integrity.