Impact and Consequences of Excluding Post-Retraction Citations from Journal Impact Factor Calculations
Journal of Medical Library and Information Science,
Vol. 6 No. 6 (2025),
5 April 2025
,
Page 1-5
https://doi.org/10.22037/jmlis.v6i.48705
Abstract
The retraction of flawed or questionable studies is crucial for maintaining the integrity and reliability of scientific literature. However, many retracted papers continue to be cited, often without explicit acknowledgement of their retracted status. Continued citations of retracted publications can disseminate unreliable results and distort citation-based indicators, such as the Journal Impact Factor. To address these concerns, Clarivate announced in May 2025 that citations to and from retracted papers made after the official retraction date will be excluded from Journal Impact Factor calculations. This commentary addresses the issue of post-retraction citations, Clarivate’s rationale for the change, and its expected benefits and potential impacts. It argues that although the policy enhances research integrity, it may also discourage journals from pursuing and disclosing retractions due to the possible negative impact on their metrics.
- Journal impact factor
- Retraction
- Research integrity
- Post-retraction citation
- Citation metrics
- Scholarly publishing
How to Cite
References
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