Knowra Conflict of interest Conflict of interest A conflict of interest occurs when personal interests could improperly influence professional judgment or action. It can exist even when no improper decision has been made.
Principal–agent problem : A situation in which an agent's interests may diverge from the interests of the person or organization they represent. It explains why delegated decision-making creates opportunities for private interests to distort professional judgment.
Research misconduct : Conduct that violates accepted standards of research integrity, including fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism. Financial and professional interests can threaten research integrity, although a conflict alone is not misconduct.
Bias : A systematic tendency to favor or disfavor people, ideas, or outcomes in judgment. Bias can exist without a personal stake, while a conflict describes circumstances that may produce biased judgment.
Regulatory capture : A condition in which a regulator advances the interests of the industry it is meant to oversee. Close ties and incentives can shift public decision-making toward regulated firms.
Appearance of impropriety : The perception that conduct may be improper, regardless of whether misconduct has been established. Institutions must decide when appearances alone warrant disclosure, recusal, or other safeguards.
Fiduciary duty : A legal duty to act loyally and carefully for another party in a relationship of trust. Conflicts matter especially when a professional owes a fiduciary duty to a client or organization.
Financial conflict of interest in research : A researcher's financial interests that could affect, or appear to affect, the design, conduct, or reporting of research. Research institutions use disclosure and oversight rules to address this specific form of conflict.
Bribery : The offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of something valuable to influence an official or professional act improperly. A conflict can exist without an exchange of benefits; bribery involves an improper inducement.
Scientific integrity : The commitment to honesty, rigor, transparency, and accountability in scientific work. Conflicts can weaken confidence in findings, making integrity safeguards essential to credible research.
Conflict-of-interest policy : An organization's rules for identifying, disclosing, assessing, and managing competing interests. Policy design determines which interests count and what response is proportionate.
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