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A Rise In Retractions Reveals Holes In The Scientific System

WUNC News | By Laura Pellicer,
Frank Stasio
Published October 12, 2017 at 12:43 PM EDT
Scientific retractions are on the rise in the United States, according to new data. Meanwhile, the scientific community is pushing for increased rigor and reproducibility of studies.
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Scientific retractions are on the rise in the United States, according to new data. Meanwhile, the scientific community is pushing for increased rigor and reproducibility of studies.

Scientific journals are periodically forced to issue retractions of scientific papers. It is a decision no scientist or publisher wants to make, but in some cases studies with major inaccuracies, or even fraud, manage to find their way into scientific publications. 

WUNC data reporter Jason deBruyn talks about the rise in retractions of scientific papers printed in scientific journals.

New data fromRetraction Watch, a website which pioneered the collection of retractions, shows they are on the rise in the United States.WUNCdata reporter JasondeBruyntalks about some major academic fraud cases that have played out in North Carolina in the past few years. He also discusses the implications of fraudulent or false scientific studies on the quality and legitimacy of medical treatment.  

Copyright 2017 North Carolina Public Radio
Laura Pellicer
Laura Pellicer is a producer with The State of Things (hyperlink), a show that explores North Carolina through conversation. Laura was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, a city she considers arrestingly beautiful, if not a little dysfunctional. She worked as a researcher for CBC Montreal and also contributed to their programming as an investigative journalist, social media reporter, and special projects planner. Her work has been nominated for two Canadian RTDNA Awards. Laura loves looking into how cities work, pursuing stories about indigenous rights, and finding fresh voices to share with listeners. Laura is enamored with her new home in North Carolina—notably the lush forests, and the waves where she plans on moonlighting as a mediocre surfer.
See stories by Laura Pellicer
Frank Stasio
Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.
See stories by Frank Stasio