Science Says: What happens when researchers make mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes, but when scientists do, the remedy goes far beyond saying you’re sorry. Two fresh examples show how some journals and universities react when the need arises to set the record straight.
On Wednesday, the New England Journal of Medicine retracted and republished a landmark study on the Mediterranean diet, and issued an unprecedented five other corrections after an obscure report last year scrutinized thousands of articles in eight journals over more than a decade and questioned some methods.
Separately, Cornell University said it was investigating “a wide range of allegations of research misconduct” raised against a prominent food marketing faculty member.
The New England Journal’s review did not alter any conclusions and should raise public trust in science, not erode it, said its top editor, Dr. Jeffrey Drazen.