A financial or personal interest that could bias a study's conduct or reporting.
A conflict of interest exists when a researcher, author, or institution has a financial, personal, or professional relationship (e.g., funding, consultancy fees, equity, employment) that could influence, or appear to influence, the design, conduct, interpretation, or reporting of a study. Its presence does not automatically invalidate findings, but it warrants closer scrutiny of methodology and outcome framing, and transparent disclosure is the expected standard rather than an indicator of misconduct.
This guide was auto-drafted and is pending editorial review.