Conflict of Interest Policy

Global Interdisciplinary Research and Publishing Collective (GIRPC) Journal

Effective Date

The Global Interdisciplinary Research and Publishing Collective (GIRPC) Journal is committed to ensuring that editorial decisions, peer-review evaluations, and published research are free from inappropriate influence arising from personal, financial, institutional, or other competing interests.

Transparency regarding potential conflicts of interest is essential to maintaining the integrity, objectivity, and credibility of scholarly publishing. The Journal therefore requires all participants in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, Editorial Board members, and editorial staff—to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could reasonably be viewed as influencing their professional judgment.

This policy establishes the principles governing the disclosure, assessment, and management of conflicts of interest in connection with manuscripts submitted to the Journal.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

promote transparency in scholarly communication;
preserve the independence of editorial decision-making;
protect the objectivity of peer review;
maintain public confidence in published research; and
provide clear procedures for identifying and managing competing interests.

The existence of a conflict of interest does not automatically preclude publication, editorial participation, or peer review. What is essential is the timely and accurate disclosure of relevant interests and the implementation of appropriate management measures where necessary.

Definition of a Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when a person's external interests, relationships, or commitments could reasonably be perceived as influencing, or appearing to influence, their scholarly, editorial, or professional judgment. Conflicts may be actual, potential, or perceived. The Journal adopts a broad interpretation of competing interests and encourages disclosure whenever uncertainty exists.

Financial Conflicts of Interest

Examples of financial interests that should be disclosed include, but are not limited to:

employment;
consultancy arrangements;
honoraria or speaking fees;
research grants or funding;
stock ownership or shareholdings;
patents or patent applications;
royalties or licensing agreements;
paid expert testimony;
commercial sponsorship; and
any other financial relationship that may benefit from the publication of the research.

Financial interests held by an author's institution or immediate family members should also be disclosed where they are relevant to the submitted work.

Non-Financial Conflicts of Interest

Non-financial interests may also create competing interests requiring disclosure.

Examples include:

personal relationships;
family relationships;
close professional collaborations;
academic rivalry or competition;
institutional affiliations;
ideological or political commitments;
religious or philosophical beliefs directly related to the research;
advocacy positions; and
membership in organizations with a direct interest in the research outcome.

The Journal recognizes that non-financial conflicts may be as significant as financial conflicts in influencing professional judgment.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must disclose all interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research, its interpretation, or its presentation. Disclosures should include:

sources of financial support;
relationships with commercial entities;
institutional affiliations relevant to the research;
personal or professional relationships that may be relevant; and
any other circumstance that could be viewed as a competing interest.

Where no competing interests exist, authors should include the statement:

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the disclosure statement before submission.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must decline a review invitation if they have any conflict of interest that could compromise their impartiality or create a reasonable perception of bias. Examples include:

recent or ongoing collaboration with the authors;
personal relationships with the authors;
institutional affiliation with the authors where impartiality may reasonably be questioned;
direct academic competition;
financial interests related to the research; or
any other circumstance that may affect objective evaluation.

If a conflict becomes apparent after accepting a review assignment, the reviewer must immediately notify the Editorial Office and cease reviewing the manuscript unless otherwise instructed. Reviewers must not use information obtained through peer review for personal, professional, or commercial advantage.

Responsibilities of Editors and Editorial Board Members

Editors and Editorial Board members must avoid handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists or could reasonably be perceived to exist. Editors shall recuse themselves from manuscripts involving:

their own research;
current or recent collaborators;
students or supervisors;
family members;
institutional colleagues where impartiality may reasonably be questioned;
organizations with which they have a financial relationship; or
any other circumstance that may compromise editorial independence.

Such manuscripts shall be reassigned to another qualified editor. Editors must not use confidential manuscript information for personal benefit.

Editorial Assessment and Management

The Editorial Office shall evaluate disclosed interests to determine whether any management measures are necessary. Possible measures include:

publication of a disclosure statement;
assignment of independent reviewers;
reassignment of the manuscript to another editor;
exclusion of a reviewer from the review process;
additional editorial oversight; or
any other action considered necessary to preserve the integrity of the publication process.

The Journal retains discretion to determine the appropriate management of disclosed interests.

Failure to Disclose

Failure to disclose a relevant conflict of interest may constitute a breach of publication ethics. Where undisclosed competing interests are identified, the Journal may:

request clarification from the authors, reviewers, or editors;
publish a correction or disclosure statement;
reject the manuscript;
withdraw an accepted manuscript;
retract a published article; or
take any other editorial action considered necessary to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Editorial action shall be proportionate to the seriousness of the omission and its impact on the publication.

Post-Publication Disclosure

If a previously undisclosed conflict of interest becomes known after publication, the Journal may publish an appropriate correction or disclosure notice. In cases where the undisclosed interest materially affects the reliability or interpretation of the research, further editorial action may be taken in accordance with the Journal's Retraction & Correction Policy.

Confidentiality

Information disclosed under this policy shall be handled confidentially and used solely for the purpose of evaluating and managing competing interests within the publication process. The Journal will publish only those disclosures considered necessary to ensure transparency for readers.

Policy Review

This policy shall be reviewed periodically to ensure continued alignment with evolving standards of research integrity, scholarly publishing, and editorial best practice. The Journal reserves the right to amend this policy where necessary to maintain transparency and confidence in the publication process.