Objective 1 – Explain how to make ethical declaration.
Objective 2 – Explain how to declare conflict of interest.
Objective 3 – Explain how to declare funding and sponsorship in scientific writing.
Objective 4 – Know the essentials of copyright issues.
Objective 5 – Give guidelines on how to write acknowledgements.
Ensuring ethical integrity is paramount in academic research. An ethical declaration affirms that the study was conducted in line with ethical standards, such as obtaining informed consent from participants (Resnik, 2015). The paper could include a statement confirming that all subjects gave informed consent and that the study received ethical approval from an institutional review board.
Transparently reporting any potential conflicts of interest maintains the integrity of the research process (Thompson, 1993). Authors should disclose any affiliations, funding, or relationships that could be perceived as influencing the research outcome.
Acknowledging the sources of funding ensures transparency and recognizes the contributions of sponsoring organizations (Moses & Dorsey, 2009). The authors could mention any grants or scholarships received during the study, as well as the sponsors' role (if any) in the study's design, implementation, or reporting.
Clarification of copyright issues ensures that the work is properly credited and that there are no legal implications for the reuse of the material (Rodrigues, 2013). Permissions should be duly obtained and cited in this section if the study incorporates copyrighted materials.
Thanking individuals or organizations that contributed to the study but are not included as authors is a common practice (Wager, 2011). Acknowledgments might include thanking research assistants, advisors, or any institutions that provided resources for the study.
