Abstract

The advancement of knowledge relies on a foundation built by past research, yet when that foundation is compromised by fraud, the structure of science weakens. In marketing research, a series of research integrity scandals have led to multiple retractions from top-tier journals, exposing the field’s reliance on studies later deemed fraudulent. This paper investigates the persistence of these fraudulent-now-retracted articles (FNRAs) in the marketing literature, asking whether they continue to be cited, in which journals, and whether they have influenced review articles. Analyzing 13 FRNAs, the author found that despite their formal retraction, these articles remain embedded in scholarly discourse. With 82 post-retraction citations in 37 marketing journals—with some appearing in literature reviews—the legacy of these FNRAs endures, misleading future research. By (unknowingly) standing on the shoulders of fallen giants, the field risks perpetuating error rather than progress. The author discusses implications for research integrity and corrective mechanisms.

Citation

Moussa, S (2025), "Are we standing on the shoulders of fallen giants? Citations of fraudulent-now-retracted articles in marketing journals", Journal of Empirical Generalisations in Marketing Science, Vol. 24, No. 1

Keywords

fraudulent articles, Marketing Research, post-retraction citations, research integrity, retraction