Final answer:
Conflict of interest in research refers to any situation where a researcher's personal or financial interests could compromise the integrity of the research, leading to biased outcomes and ethical concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
In research, conflict of interest is an issue that can affect the objectivity of the research findings. A conflict of interest occurs when a researcher's personal or financial interests could potentially influence the study's design, conduct, or results. To ensure the credibility of research, it is essential that these conflicts are disclosed. For example, if a study on the effects of a particular drug is funded by the drug company, this could represent a conflict of interest where results might be biased toward a favorable outcome. Ethical research practices, as guided by organizations like the American Sociological Association (ASA), mandate the disclosure of conflicts and adherence to ethical standards to prevent such biases. Additionally, researchers must strive for value neutrality, allowing no personal values to shape interpretations, as emphatically advocated by pioneer sociologist Max Weber.