How to Cite a Retracted Article in APA 7th Edition

Citing retracted articles requires special attention to ensure academic integrity and transparency in your research. When an article has been retracted by its publisher or journal, you must clearly indicate this status in your citation. This guide explains how to properly cite retracted sources in APA 7th edition format, when to use them, and best practices for maintaining scholarly credibility.

What Is a Retracted Article?

A retracted article is a scholarly work that has been formally withdrawn from publication by the journal, publisher, or authors due to serious errors, misconduct, or other problematic issues. Retraction notices are recorded in databases like PubMed, CrossRef, and Scopus.

Common reasons for article retraction include:

• Fabricated or falsified data - The research findings were not genuine
• Plagiarism - Substantial portions copied from other sources without attribution
• Duplicate publication - The same research published multiple times
• Methodological errors - Fundamental flaws in the research design or analysis
• Ethical violations - Failure to obtain proper informed consent or IRB approval
• Author request - Authors request retraction due to discovered errors

Why Cite Retracted Articles?

While you should generally avoid using retracted articles as primary sources, there are legitimate reasons to cite them:

1. Historical context - Discussing how flawed research influenced your field
2. Methodological critique - Explaining errors to highlight importance of proper methodology
3. Meta-analysis - Examining the retraction itself as research data
4. Discussing the retraction - Analyzing the retraction notice or investigation results

APA 7th Edition Format for Retracted Articles

Basic Reference Format

Author(s). (Year). Title of article. [Retracted]. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages. DOI or URL

Complete Example

Mitchell, J., & Chen, S. (2019). Novel approach to cancer treatment. [Retracted]. Journal of Medical Research, 45(3), 234-249. https://doi.org/10.1234/jmr.2019.45234

Retraction notice: Mitchell, J., & Chen, S. (2021). Retraction of "Novel approach to cancer treatment." Journal of Medical Research, 48(1), 145. https://doi.org/10.1234/jmr.2021.48145

Step-by-Step Guide to Citing Retracted Articles

Step 1: Locate Retraction Information

Begin by verifying that the article is actually retracted:

• Check the journal’s website for retraction notices
• Search PubMed (for biomedical articles) or CrossRef
• Look for the retraction notice published by the journal
• Note the retraction date and reason

Step 2: Gather Complete Citation Information

Collect all necessary information:

• Original author name(s) and year of publication
• Article title
• Journal name, volume, issue, and page numbers
• DOI or URL of the original article
• Retraction notice details (publication year, notice title)

Step 3: Format the Reference Entry

Use the standard reference format with [Retracted] notation:

Original Article:
Mitchell, J., & Chen, S. (2019). Novel cancer treatment approach. [Retracted]. Nature Medical Research, 45(3), 234-249. https://doi.org/10.1234/nmr.2019.45234

Step 4: Include Retraction Notice Reference

Add a separate reference for the retraction notice:

Retraction Notice:
Mitchell, J., & Chen, S. (2021). Retraction of "Novel cancer treatment approach." Nature Medical Research, 48(1), 145. https://doi.org/10.1234/nmr.2021.48145

Step 5: Create In-Text Citations

Use standard APA in-text citation format, but consider adding context:

The original study (Mitchell & Chen, 2019) claimed significant results, though it was subsequently retracted (Mitchell & Chen, 2021) due to data fabrication concerns.

Different Scenarios for Citing Retracted Articles

Discussing the Original Findings

When you want to reference the original claims before discussing the retraction:

Smith, L. (2020). Revolutionary findings in quantum physics. [Retracted]. Physics Today, 52(4), 112-128. https://doi.org/10.1234/pt.2020.52112

In-text: "Earlier research suggested breakthrough findings (Smith, 2020), though subsequent investigation revealed methodological flaws leading to retraction (Smith, 2021)."

Critiquing the Retracted Research

When your paper analyzes why the research was problematic:

Johnson, M., & Lee, K. (2018). Biomarker identification for disease X. [Retracted]. Journal of Biomedical Science, 41(2), 89-104. https://doi.org/10.1234/jbs.2018.41089

Retraction notice: Journal of Biomedical Science Editorial Board. (2020). Retraction: Biomarker identification for disease X. Journal of Biomedical Science, 44(5), 201. https://doi.org/10.1234/jbs.2020.44201

In-text: "Johnson and Lee's (2018) retracted study failed to use validated measurement instruments, exemplifying why rigorous methodology is essential."

Common Questions About Retracted Article Citations

Should I Remove Retracted Articles from My References?

Not necessarily. If you’re discussing the retraction itself, the original findings before retraction, or the implications of the misconduct, including the reference with clear retraction notation is appropriate. However, never use a retracted article as evidence for your own claims without acknowledging its retracted status.

How Does the Retraction Notation Appear?

The notation [Retracted] should appear immediately after the article title and before the journal name:

Author(s). (Year). Title. [Retracted]. Journal, Volume(Issue), pages.

What If I’m Citing the Retraction Notice Itself?

Format it as you would any journal article:

Journal Name Editorial Board. (2021). Retraction of "Article title." Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages. DOI

Using GenText for Retracted Article Citations

GenText’s APA citation generator recognizes retracted sources and automatically adds proper retraction notation. Simply enter the article details and select “retracted” status, and the tool generates both the original reference and retraction notice in correct APA format.

This streamlines the process and ensures you don’t accidentally omit the retraction notation, maintaining full transparency in your academic work.

Best Practices for Handling Retracted Sources

1. Always indicate retraction status - Never hide a retraction or cite it as if it’s current research
2. Explain why you’re citing it - Make clear in your text why a retracted source is relevant
3. Minimize citation of retracted work - Use only when essential to your argument
4. Check retraction databases regularly - Verify sources haven’t been retracted after your initial research
5. Consider your audience - Explain retraction context for readers unfamiliar with the source
6. Include both references - Cite both the original article and retraction notice when relevant

Conclusion

Properly citing retracted articles demonstrates academic integrity and transparency. By clearly indicating retraction status in your citations and explaining why you’re referencing the work, you maintain scholarly credibility while contributing meaningfully to academic discourse. Tools like GenText make this process simple and error-free, ensuring your citations always reflect the current status of the sources you reference.