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Conflict Of Interest

Conflict of Interest Policy
E-ISSN: 2277-7547
Introduction

The International Journal of Behavioral Social and Movement Sciences (IJOBSMS) is committed to maintaining transparency, integrity, and ethical standards throughout the publication process. Authors, reviewers, and editors are required to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that may influence the preparation, review, or publication of scholarly work.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that editorial decisions and published research are free from inappropriate influence and are based solely on scholarly merit and ethical considerations.

Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when personal, financial, professional, institutional, or other relationships could influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, the objectivity, integrity, or interpretation of research and publication activities. Examples of potential conflicts of interest include, but are not limited to:

Financial support, grants, or sponsorships
Employment, consultancy, or advisory roles
Personal or professional relationships
Academic collaboration or competition
Stock ownership or financial investments
Patents, intellectual property rights, or commercial interests
Author Responsibilities

Authors must disclose all relevant financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the conduct, interpretation, or reporting of their research.

Sources of funding and financial support must also be disclosed within the manuscript.

Where no conflicts of interest exist, authors should include the following statement:
"The authors declare no conflict of interest."

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could affect their ability to provide an objective and impartial evaluation. Reviewers should decline review invitations if they:

  • • Have a personal relationship with the authors
  • • Are affiliated with the same institution as the authors
  • • Have collaborated with the authors recently
  • • Have financial or professional interests related to the research
  • • Believe their impartiality may be compromised
Editor Responsibilities

Editors must manage manuscripts fairly, objectively, and confidentially.

Editors should not participate in editorial decisions involving manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists. In such cases, responsibility for the manuscript may be assigned to another editor to ensure an impartial review process.

Management of Conflicts of Interest

When a potential conflict of interest is identified, the journal may take appropriate measures, including:

  • • Requesting additional disclosures or clarifications
  • • Assigning alternative reviewers or editors
  • • Publishing relevant conflict of interest statements
  • • Taking editorial action where necessary to protect the integrity of the publication process
Failure to Disclose Conflicts of Interest

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest may constitute a breach of publication ethics. Where undisclosed conflicts are identified, the journal may take appropriate action, including:

  • • Rejection of the manuscript
  • • Publication of a correction or expression of concern
  • • Retraction of a published article where necessary
  • • Notification of relevant institutions when appropriate
Transparency and Disclosure

The journal is committed to maintaining transparency in scholarly publishing. Conflict of interest disclosures provided by authors may be published alongside accepted articles to ensure transparency for readers and the wider research community.

COPE Compliance

IJOBSMS follows the principles and best practice guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and supports transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct throughout the publication process.

Conflict of Interest Disclaimer Notice: Responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of conflict of interest disclosures rests with the authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the publication process. The journal reserves the right to investigate concerns relating to undisclosed conflicts of interest and to take appropriate action in accordance with its publication ethics policies.