What Happens to a Published Article if a Cited Article Is Corrected?

Abstract

When one considers that as many as 2.5 million scientific articles are published each year, it is likely that more than a few contain errors. Probably, most go undetected. In theory, scientific literature is self-correcting, and the truth will eventually be revealed. However, to maintain the integrity of our literature, it is best to correct errors. Fortunately, when it comes to an errant citation, most scientific citations provide background, and errors in background citations should not change the conclusion of a study. However, for systematic reviews that quantitatively synthesize published research findings in a meta-analysis, an error in (or retraction of) an included citation will affect the study results. Such errors require correction, revision of the meta-analysis, and electronic attachment of the notation to the publication.