International Journal of Computer
Trends and Technology
Conflicts of interest
Conflicts of interest (sometimes referred to as ‘competing interests’) occur when outside issues affect, or are perceived to affect, the neutrality or objectivity of research. This can happen at any stage in the research cycle, including during the experimentation phase, while a manuscript is being written, or during the process of turning a manuscript into a published article.
Conflicts of interest do not always stop work from being published or prevent someone from being involved in the review process. However, they must be declared. A clear declaration of all possible conflicts – whether they actually had an influence or not – allows others to make informed decisions about the work and its review process.
If conflicts of interest are found after publication, this may be embarrassing for the authors, the Editor and the journal. It may be necessary to publish a corrigendum or reassess the review process.
Personal – a pre-existing relationship induces an individual to act inappropriately; Financial – an individual receives payment relating to the subject of the research, or from connected organizations; Intellectual property – undue emphasis on owned patents/trademarks; Affiliations – employment or membership in an interested organization; Ideology – beliefs or associations influencing research decisions.
Conflicts are typically associated with bias risk. If you have any interest or association that could be seen to influence your work, declare it during submission. You may be asked to modify the manuscript. Undeclared conflicts may result in corrigendum or retraction. Even if none exist, you must confirm this in writing.
You must assess your own potential conflicts. Avoid handling work of recent coauthors or those with shared affiliations. Declare any perceived conflicts. Evaluate declared or undeclared author conflicts and review assignments carefully. Do not assign reviewers who: work(ed) at the same institution, coauthored recently, or are in collaboration. If conflicted, notify IJCTT’s editorial contact for escalation.
Ensure neutrality and lack of conflict before accepting peer review. Avoid authors with recent collaborations or shared employment. IJCTT follows a double-blind peer review to promote honest, impartial feedback.