After finding errors in the data, the research team had to backtrack on their conclusions.

backtrack 是由 back（向后）和 track（轨迹、路线）组成的复合动词，字面意思是"沿着原路返回"，引申为"撤回、重新考虑"的意思。在这里指研究团队需要撤回之前的结论并重新评估。