Mostafa Mohamed

This study aims to identify and analyze retracted articles in the field of sustainability. It examines a dataset of 117 retracted publications from the past three decades (1996–2023) based on the Web of Science (WoS) database. The retracted articles were written by 467 authors from 27 countries. The findings indicate that the journals with the highest number of retractions in sustainability research are PLOS One, Complexity, Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, Frontiers in Environmental Science, and the Journal of Nanomaterials. Through a comprehensive examination of visual domain networks and the evaluation of 117 retracted sustainability articles, several key themes were identified, including research ethics and data integrity, authorship and collaboration conflicts, manipulation of the peer review process, and institutional and geographic retraction patterns. The results also reveal that nearly 60% of retractions in this domain were due to misconduct and falsification of data, 17% were due to plagiarism, 12% were related to unethical peer review practices, and 11% were due to authorship issues. This study provides a comprehensive review of retraction trends in sustainability research, highlighting key patterns and contributing factors. By identifying the journals, countries, and affiliations most frequently associated with retractions, this paper offers valuable insights into the prevalence of retractions in sustainability research. Results also underscore the critical importance of adherence to ethical standards in maintaining the credibility of sustainability research.