Certification for IRB Professionals (CIP) Practice Exam

A financial conflict of interest could involve:

1. Receiving stock in a company funding your research

2. Accepting a gift card for attending a seminar

3. Publishing a paper based on voluntary contributions

4. Attending conferences funded by a neutral third party

The correct answer is: Receiving stock in a company funding your research

A financial conflict of interest occurs when an individual's financial interests may compromise or appear to compromise their professional judgment in conducting research. Receiving stock in a company that is funding your research clearly represents a direct financial interest that could influence the conduct of the research. This arrangement raises concerns about whether the researcher can remain objective, potentially leading to biased results that favor the financial interests of the company. In this scenario, the stock ownership can lead to a scenario where the researcher may consciously or unconsciously prioritize the interests of the company over ethical considerations or the integrity of the research. This makes the relationship between the researcher and the funding entity problematic, as it can undermine the trust that should exist in the research process. The other options, while they may have ethical implications, do not present the same level of clear financial entanglement that impacts judgment in research directly. Gifts or funding from neutral parties can raise concerns but do not intrinsically create a conflict like owning stock in a funding company does.