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Perceived conflict of interest in health science partnerships

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  • John C Besley
  • Aaron M McCright
  • Nagwan R Zahry
  • Kevin C Elliott
  • Norbert E Kaminski
  • Joseph D Martin

Abstract

University scientists conducting research on topics of potential health concern often want to partner with a range of actors, including government entities, non-governmental organizations, and private enterprises. Such partnerships can provide access to needed resources, including funding. However, those who observe the results of such partnerships may judge those results based on who is involved. This set of studies seeks to assess how people perceive two hypothetical health science research collaborations. In doing so, it also tests the utility of using procedural justice concepts to assess perceptions of research legitimacy as a theoretical way to investigate conflict of interest perceptions. Findings show that including an industry collaborator has clear negative repercussions for how people see a research partnership and that these perceptions shape people’s willingness to see the research as a legitimate source of knowledge. Additional research aimed at further communicating procedures that might mitigate the impact of industry collaboration is suggested.

Suggested Citation

  • John C Besley & Aaron M McCright & Nagwan R Zahry & Kevin C Elliott & Norbert E Kaminski & Joseph D Martin, 2017. "Perceived conflict of interest in health science partnerships," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(4), pages 1-20, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0175643
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175643
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Schultz, Émilien & Mancini, Julien & Ward, Jeremy K., 2023. "What does the French public consider to be a conflict of interest for medical researchers?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    2. John C. Besley & Nagwan R. Zahry & Aaron McCright & Kevin C. Elliott & Norbert E. Kaminski & Joseph D. Martin, 2019. "Conflict of Interest Mitigation Procedures May Have Little Influence on the Perceived Procedural Fairness of Risk‐Related Research," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(3), pages 571-585, March.
    3. Leland L. Glenna, 2017. "AFHVS 2017 presidential address," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 34(4), pages 1021-1031, December.
    4. Joseph Árvai & Sara Goto Gray & Kaitlin T. Raimi & Robyn Wilson & Caitlin Drummond, 2020. "Industry‐Dominated Science Advisory Boards Are Perceived To Be Legitimate…But Only When They Recommend More Stringent Risk Management Policies," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(11), pages 2329-2339, November.
    5. Glenna, Leland & Bruce, Analena, 2021. "Suborning science for profit: Monsanto, glyphosate, and private science research misconduct," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(7).

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