Conflict of Interest Policy
The African Journal of Advanced Pure and Applied Sciences (AJAPAS) is committed to maintaining the integrity and objectivity of the scientific publication process. A conflict of interest arises when an individual's personal, financial, or professional relationships could inappropriately influence their actions or judgments in relation to the journal's operations (e.g., manuscript submission, peer review, editorial decisions).
AJAPAS requires all parties involved in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, and editors—to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. This transparency is crucial for ensuring fairness, impartiality, and public trust in the research we publish.
1. Definition of Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest can be financial or non-financial, professional, or personal. It exists when:
a. An individual or their immediate family members have a direct or indirect financial interest (e.g., employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, patents, grants, paid expert testimony) that could be affected by the publication of the research. b. An individual has significant personal or professional relationships or rivalries that could influence their actions. c. An individual has intellectual property rights or strong academic beliefs that might bias their judgment.
2. Policy for Authors
a. Mandatory Disclosure: Authors are required to declare any potential conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the results or interpretation of their manuscript. This disclosure must be made at the time of submission. b. Funding Sources: All sources of funding for the research must be clearly acknowledged in the manuscript. c. Transparency: Authors should aim for full transparency regarding any relationships that might lead to a conflict of interest.
3. Policy for Reviewers
a. Responsibility to Disclose: Reviewers are obligated to inform the Editor of any potential conflicts of interest that might bias their review of a manuscript. b. Recusal from Review: If a reviewer has a conflict of interest (e.g., a close collaboration with an author, a competing interest with the research, or a financial stake), they must decline the review invitation and inform the Editor of the reason. c. Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all information regarding submitted manuscripts as confidential and not use any unpublished information for their own benefit.
4. Policy for Editors
a. Impartiality: Editors are responsible for making fair and unbiased decisions. They must avoid situations where a conflict of interest could influence their editorial judgment. b. Recusal from Handling: If an Editor has a conflict of interest with a submitted manuscript (e.g., they are an author, have a close relationship with an author, or a competing interest), they must recuse themselves from handling that manuscript. The manuscript will then be assigned to another qualified editor without a conflict of interest. c. Confidentiality: Editors must ensure the confidentiality of the review process and all submitted material.
5. Management of Conflicts
AJAPAS employs procedures to manage disclosed conflicts of interest to ensure that they do not compromise the integrity of the publication process. This may involve:
a. Assigning manuscripts to different reviewers or editors. b. Requesting additional disclosures or clarifications. c. Noting conflicts of interest in published articles when necessary and appropriate.
By adhering to this Conflict of Interest Policy, AJAPAS aims to foster trust in the peer review process and ensure that published research is credible, unbiased, and serves the best interests of the scientific community.
