Cited by 84Pharmaceutical industry and healthcareAcademic integrity and plagiarismInterdisciplinary Research and Collaboration

Perceived conflict of interest in health science partnerships

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Besley, John C., McCright, Aaron M., Zahry, Nagwan R., Elliott, Kevin C., Kaminski, Norbert E., Martin, Joseph D.·2017·PLOS ONE

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.

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Authors
Besley, J. C., McCright, A. M., Zahry, N. R., Elliott, K. C., Kaminski, N. E., & Martin, J. D.
Affiliations
  • Michigan State University (US)
  • University of Leeds (GB)
Corresponding author
Besley, John C.
Venue
PLOS ONE
Published
2017-04-20
Volume
12
Issue
4
Pages
e0175643
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2606941214
Cited by
84
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5
FWCI
11.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Michigan State University
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Pharmaceutical industry and healthcare
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Academic integrity and plagiarism
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration
Keywords
conflicts of interest, industry partnerships, procedural justice, research funding, university-industry collaboration
MeSH terms
Cooperative Behavior, Universities, Conflict of Interest

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