Journals
Once a groundbreaking study takes hold in the media, it can develop a life of its own. It would spread through viral marketing; dangerously if its carried by a laymen (which I am a part of in this case) since the information might not go into scrutiny. Worst, it might get altered.
Once a finding is published, people would take notice and would store the information into their brain. People often equates published to reliability. From these findings, people might found renewed hope and would rigorously rely on them. However, retractions might cause complications.
Once a finding is published, people would take notice and would store the information into their brain. People often equates published to reliability. From these findings, people might found renewed hope and would rigorously rely on them. However, retractions might cause complications.
When a study is retracted, it can be hard to make its effects go away. The 'damage' has been done. Much more alarming, people seems to take less interest on retracted studies. Also retracted findings seems to generate less publicity. Today, retractions of scientific studies are surging.
Medical science is based on trust, and most researchers accept findings published in peer-reviewed journals. As often happens, the original paper would inspire clinical research by others. However, peer reviewed studies might be flawed. That filtering process has a loophole. Scientists don't want to replicate each others' findings because they wont receive the credit for it. Researchers seem reluctant to replicate the findings of other researchers, which may lead to more errors unable to be detected.
Click to expand findings
Since 2001, there's been a 15-fold increase in retractions in scientific journals. In 2001, there were only 22 retraction notices. In 2006 and 2010 there were 139 and 339 retraction notices respectively. From January to July 2011, there already have been 210 retractions, according to Thomson Reuters Web of Science.
These retraction trends indicates that science journals are getting better at catching mistakes. Another reason is, researchers have their own agenda behind the search for flaws. It can be used as a means to boost their career.
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