What is true about the management of conflicts of interest in research?

Management plans are often created to reduce the impact of conflicts of interest. This approach recognizes that while conflicts of interest can arise, it is not always feasible or necessary to eliminate them completely. Instead, developing a management plan allows researchers and their institutions to address the potential for bias and maintain the integrity of the research process.

Such plans may involve various strategies, including disclosure of the conflict to affected parties, monitoring research activities, or even recusal from specific decision-making processes. By approaching conflicts of interest with a management strategy, researchers can balance personal or financial interests with their ethical obligations to ensure that their research remains credible and trustworthy.

In contrast, the idea that all conflicts must be eliminated overlooks the reality of how conflicts can exist in many forms and are sometimes intrinsic to certain research environments. Simply disclosing conflicts does not suffice if there is no active management of the situations that may arise. Additionally, self-judgment regarding the necessity of conflict management can lead to insufficient oversight since researchers might not be fully aware of or objective about the potential impact of their conflicts.