Conflict of Interest
At the RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in academic publishing. To ensure the credibility and objectivity of the research we publish, we require all authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence their work or decision-making processes.
Definition of Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest arises when an individual’s personal, financial, professional, or other interests could compromise, or appear to compromise, the objectivity, integrity, or fairness of the research, review, or editorial process. Conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to:
- Financial interests (e.g., funding, employment, consulting fees, stock ownership, patents).
- Personal relationships (e.g., family ties, close friendships, or professional collaborations).
- Academic or professional affiliations that may influence judgment.
- Intellectual or ideological biases that could affect the impartiality of the work.
Responsibilities of Authors
- Disclosure: Authors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest at the time of submission. This includes all financial and non-financial interests that could be perceived as influencing the research or its interpretation.
- Statement in Manuscript: A conflict of interest statement must be included in the manuscript, typically under a separate heading (e.g., "Conflict of Interest") before the references section. If no conflicts exist, authors should state:
"The authors declare no conflict of interest." - Funding Sources: Authors must disclose all sources of funding or financial support for the research, including grant numbers and institutional affiliations.
Responsibilities of Reviewers
- Disclosure: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could bias their evaluation of a manuscript. This includes any personal, professional, or financial relationships with the authors or their institutions.
- Recusal: If a reviewer identifies a potential conflict of interest, they must inform the editor and, if necessary, recuse themselves from the review process.
Responsibilities of Editors and Editorial Board Members
- Impartiality: Editors and editorial board members must ensure that all submissions are handled fairly and objectively, without influence from personal, financial, or professional interests.
- Disclosure: Editors and board members must disclose any conflicts of interest related to manuscripts under consideration and recuse themselves from the decision-making process if a conflict exists.
- Transparency: Any conflicts of interest involving editors or board members must be communicated to the journal’s editorial office for appropriate action.
Handling Conflicts of Interest
- Assessment: The editorial team will assess disclosed conflicts of interest to determine their potential impact on the integrity of the research or review process.
- Mitigation: If a conflict is identified, the journal may take appropriate measures, such as assigning a different editor or reviewer, requesting additional disclosures, or rejecting the submission if the conflict cannot be resolved.
- Publication of Disclosures: All disclosed conflicts of interest will be published alongside the manuscript to ensure transparency and allow readers to evaluate the potential impact on the research.
Non-Compliance
Failure to disclose a conflict of interest may result in the rejection of the manuscript, retraction of a published article, or other corrective actions as deemed necessary by the editorial board.
By adhering to this policy, the RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary aims to uphold the highest ethical standards and ensure the trustworthiness of the research we publish. We encourage all stakeholders to act with integrity and transparency throughout the publication process.
