The role of national research policy and publisher practices in shaping retraction dynamics: A case study of Romania

ABSTRACT Purpose This study examines the impact of research policy changes on scientific retractions of publications authored by Romanian authors, focusing on national trends and the interplay between policy reforms and publishing practices. Design/methodology/approach Using data from the Retraction Watch Database and Web of Science (WoS), 188 unique retractions involving Romanian authors (2000–2022) were analyzed. The study compared retraction patterns before and after the 2016 reforms, which prioritized the publication of articles in WoS-indexed journals over non-WoS outputs. Findings The analysis identified two key trends: (1) before the 2016 reforms, retractions predominantly involved non-WoS journals (99 non-WoS retractions to 38 WoS retractions), a trend that reversed postreform (16 non-WoS to 35 WoS), and (2) while the total number of WoS-indexed retractions increased after the reforms, the retraction rates for WoS articles remained stable. Post-reform reliance on MDPI journals, which have low retraction rates, partially explains this stability. Excluding MDPI publications, retraction rates for articles and reviews increase by 14.91%, aligning with patterns seen elsewhere. Research limitations The study focuses on retractions involving Romanian authors, limiting its generalizability. Furthermore, reliance on database records may not fully capture all retractions. Practical implications These findings underscore the need for research policy reforms to consider a broader range of effects, and the need for nuanced interpretations of retraction data, which are influenced by a complex range of factors, including specific publisher practices. Originality/value This research is the first to investigate the complex relationship between research policy reforms, publisher behavior, and retraction trends.