What is a post-retraction citation?

A post-retraction citation occurs when a paper cites research that has already been retracted. This is problematic because it spreads potentially flawed or fraudulent findings. XeraRetractionTracker identifies these citations to help researchers avoid citing retracted work.

How many papers are in the retraction database?

XeraRetractionTracker contains over 65,000 retracted papers from the Retraction Watch database. The database is updated daily and includes retractions, corrections, expressions of concern, and reinstatements dating back to 1970.

Is XeraRetractionTracker open access?

Yes, XeraRetractionTracker provides open access to all features. You can search papers, track citations, export data, and use all analytics without registration. We believe research integrity tools should be accessible to the academic community.

How do I check if a paper has been retracted?

Enter the paper title, DOI, or author name in our search bar. The database will show if the paper has been retracted, the reason for retraction, and how many papers have cited it since retraction.

What data sources does XeraRetractionTracker use?

We aggregate data from Retraction Watch (the most comprehensive retraction database), OpenAlex (for citation data), and our own analysis of post-retraction citation patterns. Data is updated daily.

How do I check if a journal is predatory?

Enter the journal name in our checker tool. We analyze retraction patterns, publisher reputation, and red flags. Also use Think.Check.Submit checklist: verify the journal is indexed in DOAJ, has transparent peer review, and displays editorial board information. High retraction rates for fabrication or peer review issues may indicate problems.

What makes a journal predatory?

Predatory journals prioritize profit over quality: they accept papers without proper peer review, charge high fees, have fake impact factors, spam researchers with solicitations, and lack transparent editorial processes. Our tool detects warning signs based on retraction patterns and publication integrity indicators.

Is the XeraRetractionTracker journal checker open access?

Yes, our journal credibility checker is fully open access. You can check unlimited journals, view retraction statistics, and access the Think.Check.Submit checklist without registration.

What is Think.Check.Submit?

Think.Check.Submit is a checklist created by publishers, researchers, and librarians to help authors identify trusted journals. It guides you to verify journal legitimacy before submitting your research, checking aspects like editorial board, peer review process, and indexing.

Journal CheckerEvidence-based

Is this journal safe to submit to?

We cross-reference Retraction Watch retraction patterns, journal metadata, and DOAJ indexing to flag warning signs. This is a heuristic — not a verdict. Use it alongside Think.Check.Submit.

Known patterns

Journals with elevated retraction counts

Top 0 by total retractions

Journal	Publisher	Retractions	Fabrication	Peer-review issues	Citations
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How it works

Signals we consider

Retraction history from the Retraction Watch Database — count, types, and concentration of reasons (fabrication, peer-review compromise, plagiarism).
DOAJ indexing as a positive signal for vetted open-access journals.
Time since first retraction and recency of the most recent — a pattern is more concerning than a single old incident.
Publisher reputation based on aggregate retraction patterns across that publisher’s portfolio.