Introducing Retraction Watch checks: Automatically detect retracted papers with Thrix

Ensuring citation accuracy is one of the most important (and often most overlooked) aspects of academic writing. A single outdated or retracted reference can undermine the credibility of an entire document.

That’s why Thrix now includes Retraction Watch checks – automatically identifying retracted papers in your reference list and alerting you so you can take appropriate action before submission or publication.

What is a retraction?

A retraction is a formal statement issued by a journal or publisher, indicating that a published research paper should no longer be considered a reliable part of the scientific record.

Retractions are more common than many people realize. They can occur for a wide range of reasons, including:

• honest errors in data or methodology
• issues with reproducibility or analysis
• research misconduct, such as fabrication or plagiarism
• problems identified after publication that affect the validity of the findings

When a paper is retracted, it is not simply removed. Instead, it remains part of the academic record but is marked as unreliable. However, retracted papers can still be cited accidentally, especially in fast-moving fields.

This is where automated detection becomes valuable.

How Retraction Watch checks work in Thrix

Thrix automatically checks all references with included or retrieved DOIs against the Retraction Watch database, which contains records of more than 60,000 retracted publications across the scientific literature.

When you process a document or reference list in Thrix:

Why retractions matter for researchers and editors

Without automated checks, retracted studies can remain in reference lists long after the retraction has been published.

By identifying these citations early, Thrix helps users:

• Identify retracted sources quickly
• Avoid relying on invalid or compromized research
• Maintain higher standards of research integrity
• Reduce the time spent manually checking references

This is particularly valuable for:

• Researchers preparing to submit journal articles
• Journal editors handling manuscript submissions
• Students writing dissertations and theses
• Publishers seeking to maintain editorial standards

What should I do if a cited paper has been retracted?

The purpose of Thrix’s Retraction Watch checks is not to make these decisions for you, but to ensure that potentially problematic citations are brought to your attention.

If Thrix identifies a retracted reference, don’t assume that simply removing the citation is the correct response.

Instead, start by reviewing the retraction notice linked by Thrix. Retractions can arise from many different circumstances, ranging from honest errors in data analysis to more serious issues such as plagiarism, fabrication, or research misconduct.

Understanding why the article was retracted is important because it may affect how you respond.

Questions to consider include:

• Does the retraction affect a key claim in your document?
• Have you relied on findings from the retracted paper in your own analysis or conclusions?
• Is there a more recent or reliable source that should be cited instead?
• Is the citation still appropriate because you are discussing the retraction itself or the history of the research?

In some cases, replacing or removing the reference may be sufficient. In others, you may need to review sections of your manuscript that were informed by the retracted work.

Can you cite a retracted paper?

In most cases, authors should avoid relying on retracted papers as evidence to support scientific claims. However, there are situations where citing a retracted article may be appropriate.

For example, a retracted paper might be cited:

• In discussions of research integrity or publication ethics
• In analyses of scientific controversies or historical developments
• When examining why a study was retracted
• In meta-research investigating errors, misconduct, or the retraction process itself

If you do decide to cite a retracted paper, readers should be made aware that the paper has been retracted with a clear descriptive label.

Thrix does not automatically remove retracted references. Instead, it alerts users to the retraction and provides a link to the relevant notice, allowing them to make an informed decision about whether the citation remains appropriate in context.

About Retraction Watch

Retraction Watch is a leading source of information on research retractions, scientific misconduct, and publication ethics. Its database tracks tens of thousands of retracted papers and is widely used across academia and publishing to maintain research integrity. The Retraction Watch website features reports on scientific paper retractions, research ethics, and misconduct.

Retraction Watch is an independent organization, and is not affiliated with Thrix or Shabash Ltd.

Try it in Thrix

Retraction Watch checks are now live in Thrix. Try it today!