A conflict of interest is defined as a situation where personal relationships (e.g. friend, colleague or family), business relationships (e.g. working in a competing company), or financial influences (e.g. funding) will affect the judgement of any person involved in the publication process including authors, reviewers and editors alike during the publication of any journal article; therefore it is essential that all parties disclose potential conflicts before engaging with each other to ensure research integrity and maintain professional standards throughout their work on any given project or paper submission for review/publication consideration within this journal’s guidelines on Conflicts of Interests.

Authorship

Researchers/Scholars listed as an author must have contributed significantly intellectually to the idea or dedicated design of the study, as well as to the collection, evaluation, or interpretation of data used in the creation of the work. The last version of the article must be approved by the authors before it can be published, and they must be ready to share responsibility for the research and writing. Researchers/Scholars must agree to accept responsibility for all aspects of the work in order to guarantee that any concerns about the truthfulness or integrity of any part of the work are duly investigated and addressed.

Any organization, individuals, or academicians who helped with the research or writing of the article but who does not match the requirements listed above should be thanked and acknowledged in at the conclusion of the article.

Author Responsibilities

It is the authors to declare any potential conflicts of interest that may have influenced their research or decision to submit their work to the EJMSS. This helps to ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of the research process.

By disclosing any conflicts of interest, authors allow the editors and reviewers to evaluate the research objectively and make informed decisions about its suitability for publication.

If a conflict of interest is found, steps can be taken to manage or mitigate it, such as by requiring additional disclosures or involving independent experts in the review process.

Furthermore, the corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors agree with the author list. The goal is to maintain the trust of readers and promote the highest standards of scientific rigor and ethical conduct.

Reviewers

A conflict of interest for a reviewer could arise if they have a personal or professional relationship with the authors, have a financial stake in the research outcomes, or have previously worked on similar research. If a reviewer has a conflict of interest, they should disclose it to the editor as soon as possible.

The disclosure of a conflict of interest does not necessarily prevent a reviewer from conducting the review, but it allows the editor to assess the potential impact of the conflict of interest and make an informed decision about whether the reviewer is suitable for the task.

If a conflict of interest is identified after the review has been completed, the reviewer should inform the editor immediately so that appropriate action can be taken, such as requesting a new review from another reviewer.

Overall, the disclosure of conflicts of interest is essential to maintain the objectivity and quality of the peer-review process and to ensure that published research is of the highest standard.

Editors

In situations where an editor may have a conflict of interest with a particular article or author, it is important to ensure that the review process is still rigorous and unbiased. This may involve selecting reviewers who are independent and free from any potential conflicts of interest.

Overall, the goal is to maintain the trust of readers and promote the highest standards of scientific rigour and ethical conduct. By disclosing and managing conflicts of interest, editors can help to ensure that published research is of the highest quality and integrity.