Conflict of Interest Policy
Introduction
At Gavin Publishers, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency in research and publication. This Conflict of Interest Policy outlines our guidelines for identifying, disclosing, and managing conflicts of interest to ensure the objectivity and credibility of the research published in our journals.
Definition of Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual's personal, financial, or professional relationships may compromise or appear to compromise their judgment, integrity, or objectivity in conducting or reporting research. Conflicts of interest can arise in various forms, including but not limited to:
- Financial Interests: Ownership, investments, or compensation related to the research or its outcomes.
- Personal Relationships: Relationships with individuals or organizations that may influence or appear to influence one's professional actions.
- Professional Affiliations: Memberships, roles, or other professional connections that may affect the impartiality of the research or review process.
Disclosure Requirements
-
Authors:
- Disclosure Statement: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest in a statement submitted with their manuscript. This includes financial interests, personal relationships, and professional affiliations that may influence the research.
- Funding Sources: Authors must disclose all sources of funding for the research, including grants, sponsorships, and any other financial support.
- Conflict of Interest Form: Authors may be required to complete a Conflict of Interest form as part of the manuscript submission process.
-
Reviewers:
- Reviewer Disclosure: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect their ability to provide an unbiased review. This includes financial, personal, or professional relationships with the authors or related entities.
- Recusal: Reviewers with a significant conflict of interest must recuse themselves from the review process for that particular manuscript.
-
Editors:
- Editor Disclosure: Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest related to the manuscripts they handle. This includes financial, personal, or professional relationships with the authors or related entities.
- Recusal: Editors with a significant conflict of interest must recuse themselves from the editorial decision-making process for that particular manuscript.
Management of Conflicts of Interest
-
Review and Assessment:
- Initial Review: The editorial team will review disclosed conflicts of interest to assess their potential impact on the research or review process.
- Further Inquiry: In cases where the conflict of interest is unclear or may significantly impact the research, further inquiry or additional information may be requested from the involved parties.
-
Decision Making:
- Handling Disclosures: If a conflict of interest is identified, appropriate steps will be taken to manage it. This may include assigning the manuscript to a different reviewer or editor, or including a statement in the published article acknowledging the conflict of interest.
- Transparency: All disclosed conflicts of interest will be documented and, if necessary, made transparent to ensure the integrity of the publication process.
-
Consequences of Non-Disclosure:
- Investigation: Failure to disclose a conflict of interest may result in an investigation by the editorial team.
- Sanctions: Depending on the severity of the undisclosed conflict, sanctions may include retraction of the published article, removal of the reviewer from the reviewer pool, or other appropriate actions.
Publication of Conflict of Interest Statements
- Author Disclosure: Conflict of interest statements provided by authors will be included in the published article to ensure transparency.
- Editorial Disclosure: Conflicts of interest disclosed by editors and reviewers that influence the publication process will be acknowledged in the publication, if necessary.
Contact Us
For questions about the Conflict of Interest Policy or to disclose a potential conflict of interest, please contact us at:
Gavin Publishers
Email: contact@gavinpublishers.org
We are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in research and publication. Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the integrity and transparency of our publication process.