When submitting a research paper to a journal, magazine, or other platform, you may be required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest are widespread in academic and scientific publications. Conflicts of interest have the potential to skew several aspects of research, including how a study is designed, how data is collected, processed, and published, and who is involved in the work. Show
Their sheer presence is not unethical; but, failing to recognize or declare them is, and this can tarnish a researcher’s reputation. It is the obligation of everyone engaged in research and publishing, particularly researchers, to identify and declare any conflicts for the publication to go smoothly. Understanding the conflict of interest in researchA conflict of interest in research occurs when financial or other personal factors affect or appear to impair a researcher’s professional judgment in doing or reporting research. The circumstances, not the actions or character of an individual investigator, define a conflict of interest. The key ethical dilemma is what to do with such circumstances, if not handled appropriately, it may cast doubt on the impartiality of your research or your unbiased participation in a specific decision-making process. A conflict of interest emerges when a researcher does evaluative research for a firm in which the researcher has a financial interest, or when the researcher accepts funding from a company with an interest in your research. The most serious kind of conflict of interest occurs when researchers start negotiating with a company in which they or their relatives have a monetary interest. How can conflict of interest affect research?Conflicts of interest can taint people’s perceptions of researchers and the scientific industry. When large amounts of money are at stake, it can be difficult to convince the public, lawmakers, the legal system, and even colleagues that the conclusions were not influenced for personal gain. Unintentional wrongdoing can have the same harmful consequences as intended wrongdoing. With increased media, governmental, and public scrutiny, a researcher’s reputation, research funding, and career might be as dependent on perceptions of honesty as they are on genuine integrity. Make Graphical Abstracts Talk to Your Readers Types of conflict of interest in researchThe following are the primary forms of conflicts of interest to be aware of: FinancialFinancial connections are the most prevalent source of conflict of interest in research, as they may influence an individual’s thinking and hence alter the research output. It is normal to require the researcher to report not just any conflicting financial relationships they may have individually, but also those of their closest family members, as these may potentially represent indirect conflicts of interest. PersonalPersonal ties or affiliations are the most prevalent non-financial conflicts of interest in research. A personal conflict of interest exists, for example, if a researcher is related to the editor of the journal to which they submit a paper. Another personal conflict of interest occurs when views and ideologies influence research. For example, suppose a researcher is writing a religious paper and has a strong religious belief that influences how the study is conducted and presented. ProfessionalProfessional conflicts of interest are those that can provide a professional advantage. As a journal reviewer and researcher, for instance, you may find yourself reviewing a paper on the same topic as your own, which can be a conflict of interest since you may reject the paper because it diminishes the value of your own. How to prevent conflict of interest?
Impactful visuals with no effortInclude infographics and figures to boost the readability of your research to provide value. You may use Mind The Graph to generate fantastic infographics to improve the visual appeal of your content. A conflict of interest is anything that interferes with, or could reasonably be perceived as interfering with, the full and objective presentation, commissioning, peer review, editorial decision-making, or publication of research or non-research articles submitted to AIP Publishing Journals. A conflict of interest exists if a person or institution has a relationship, personal or otherwise, which has the potential to compromise or in any way interfere with professional objectivity or judgment in issues related to the relationship. A conflict of interest is actual if a relationship exists, or apparent if the possibility for a relationship could be inferred. In either case, it is the responsibility of journal Editors, Associate Editors, Editorial Board members, authors and reviewers to declare Conflicts of Interest, actual or apparent, in order that appropriate mitigating action is taken. As conflict of interest is common, it reaches the level of concern when an observer may wonder if the individual’s behavior or judgment was motivated by his or her competing interest. Having competing interest does not imply wrongdoing, however it could undermine the credibility and trustworthiness of the journal. AIP Publishing, through this policy, aims to protect the integrity of the journals. EditorsAIP Publishing has in place procedures by which potential conflict-of-interest information is obtained from all Editors and Associate Editors on a regular basis; annually, or upon appointment or re-appointment. Such information includes identification of editorial service with related or competing journals, institutional affiliations, paid consultancies, etc. Editors, in consultation with AIP Publishing, manage their own conflicts of interest as well as those of their Associate Editors, staff, authors, reviewers and Editorial Board members. They maintain a summary of relevant interests (financial, academic and other kinds) of all editorial staff and members of editorial boards (which is updated at least annually). Article submissions from the Editors, Editorial Board members, or employees are managed so that no details of the review process, other than the anonymous reviews and decision, are accessible to the Editor or employee. AuthorsThe author has the obligation to reveal any personal interest or relationship that has the potential to be affected by publication of the submitted manuscript. Sources of funding must be acknowledged in the manuscript. All authors must report any financial interest in corporate or commercial entities dealing with the subject matter of the manuscript. On behalf of all the authors, the corresponding author has the responsibility to advise the Editor of an actual or apparent conflict of interest at the time of submission of the manuscript. Such conflicts will be acknowledged in the published article. Effective August 2021, all authors are required to include a Conflict of Interest Disclosure statement in their manuscripts submitted to AIP Publishing journals. Authors must also submit corrections if conflicts of interests are revealed after publication. ReviewersA reviewer is entrusted to provide an unbiased assessment of the scientific merit of a manuscript under review. Reviewers are tasked with evaluating any author-disclosed conflicts-of-interest as well as self-disclosing any situation or relationship to the Editor that could bias or be perceived to bias their assessment of the submitted manuscript. These include personal relations to the authors, concurrent competitive research on the same subject in the manuscript, or professional or financial ties to an organization with interests in the subject under review. In such cases where an actual or apparent Conflict-of-Interest is disclosed, the use of a review provided or requested is at the discretion of the Editor. Why is it important to declare conflicts of interest?It's important to disclose both potentially perceived and actual conflicts of interest to allow others to evaluate the matter and make the decision, rather than keep it to oneself and then create an ethical or legal situation.
Why conflict of interest is involved during research publication process?Conflicts of interest increase the likelihood of biases arising; they can harm the quality of research and the public good (even if disclosed). Conflicts of interest can involve research sponsors, authors, journals, journal staff, publishers, and peer reviewers.
What is the importance of conflicts of interest at the time of submitting a research article?Conflicts of interest in research are situations where professional objectivity may be compromised, or perceived to be compromised, because of competing financial, personal, or professional connections or personal values and stands. Conflicts of interest are not uncommon in research and academic publishing.
What is conflict of interest in publication?'Conflicts of interest arise when authors, reviewers, or editors have interests that are not fully apparent and that may influence their judgments on what is published. They have been described as those which, when revealed later, would make a reasonable reader feel misled or deceived.
|
