The existence of stealth corrections in scientific literature -- a threat to scientific integrity

TL;DR

This paper reveals the existence of stealth corrections in scientific literature, which are unmarked post-publication changes that threaten scientific integrity, and calls for transparent tracking and regulation of such corrections.

Contribution

It is the first to document and analyze the prevalence of stealth corrections across multiple fields and publishers, highlighting a new threat to scientific trustworthiness.

Findings

131 articles affected by stealth corrections from 2005 to 2024

Stealth corrections found across various publishers and scientific fields

Recommendations for transparent correction tracking and community vigilance

Abstract

Introduction: Thorough maintenance of the scientific record is needed to ensure the trustworthiness of its content. This can be undermined by a stealth correction, which is at least one post-publication change made to a scientific article, without providing a correction note or any other indicator that the publication was temporarily or permanently altered. In this paper we provide several examples of stealth corrections in order to demonstrate that these exist within the scientific literature. As far as we are aware, no documentation of such stealth corrections was previously reported in the scientific literature. Methods: We identified stealth corrections ourselves, or found already reported ones on the public database pubpeer.com or through social media accounts of known science sleuths. Results: In total we report 131 articles that were affected by stealth corrections and were published between 2005 and 2024. These stealth corrections were found among multiple publishers and scientific fields. Conclusion: and recommendations Stealth corrections exist in the scientific literature. This needs to end immediately as it threatens scientific integrity. We recommend the following: 1) Tracking all changes to the published record by all publishers in an open, uniform and transparent manner, preferably by online submission systems that log every change publicly, making stealth corrections impossible; 2) Clear definitions and guidelines on all types of corrections; 3) Support sustained vigilance of the scientific community to publicly register stealth corrections.