Variable | Budd’s study1(n = 235) | Present study(n = 315) |
Agent of retraction (per cent) | ||
Missing | – | 4 |
All authors | 81 | 48 |
Some authors | 19 | |
Editor/publisher | 19 | 17 |
Other* | – | 12 |
Primary reason for retraction (per cent) | ||
Research error | 39 | 22 |
Inability to reproduce | 16 | 20 |
Plagiarism | – | 17 |
Research misconduct | 37† | 17 |
No reason given | – | 12 |
Other | 9% | 11 |
– Category not used.
*Attorney, editor, sponsor, institutional official often with author, or not clear.
†Includes presumed misconduct and may include plagiarism.