[PatentlyDC123]

Is there a method of flagging papers in scientific journals that have been criticized or refuted, e.g., by later studies or proven inability to replicate the data?

In legal research services, like Lexis Nexis or Westlaw, many cases are "flagged" when a later case or statute reverses, narrows, or otherwise affects the earlier case. This system warns lawyers that they may not be able to cite the flagged case in their current work. Of course legal research services also come with their own issues and costs; some of which are likely associated with this system.

[walrus]

A journal can publish a retraction.

The website Retraction Watch[1] aggregates these retractions and provides a database that you can query. Reference management software like Zotero[2] can use this to monitor your collection of papers and notify you when one is retracted.

[1] https://retractionwatch.com/

[2] https://www.zotero.org/blog/retracted-item-notifications/

[earthscienceman]

Yeah. They could. But few (zero?) studies are retracted for the sake of being proven incorrect later. And, to be far, it would be ridiculous. Imagine having your career nullified because when you're 60 some major break through shows that your studies aren't relevant anymore. Your work was good when you did it, but now there's something new. It's kind of the definition of scientific progress.

However, as a counter example, in my very narrow specialty there is a well known lab that has produced highly cited bogus studies. I've personally published opposing results and said, "these studies are wrong for these reasons" using almost exactly those words. Should they be retracted? Absolutely. Will they ever be? No. Because, of course, the publisher and the authors just point the finger back at me and say "no, you're wrong!" and that's more than enough to keep the vague debate going.

[hypersoar]

An issue that comes to mind is, ironically, authority. Who decides when a paper has been discredited? I can see all sorts of incentive problems with such a system. On the other hand, Westlaw is only cataloging what has already been decided. If the Supreme Court overturns a prior case, then it's overturned whether you agree with the reasoning or not.