According to COPE, what is the primary purpose of retractions?

The primary purpose of retractions, as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), is to correct the literature and ensure its integrity. When errors, misconduct, or ethical violations are identified in published research, a retraction serves as a formal acknowledgment of these issues. This process aims to maintain trust in the scientific and medical literature by ensuring that what is presented to the public and other researchers is accurate and reliable.

Retractions signal to the academic community that certain findings should no longer be considered valid due to problems associated with the work. By doing so, they help preserve the quality of the literature and foster an environment where integrity in research is valued and upheld. This is critical as it protects both current and future research efforts from basing their work on flawed or misleading information.