Topic: How does ConfTool Pro identify Conflicts of Interest (COIs)?  (Read 61497 times)

The ConfTool system has identified a conflict of interest, but I don't understand why.
How does the system identify such conflicts?

ConfTool Pro uses several methods to identify potential conflicts of interest (COI).
A conflict of interest is created when reviewers might be partial as they could be acquainted with one of the authors.

Sometimes the system might be too critical from your point of view, but we think it's better to classify one conflict too many and avoid one "wrong" review assignment than missing a conflict of interest and assigning a partial reviewer who might be prone to nepotism.

ConfTool considers the following parameters:
  • Of course ConfTool checks if someone is submitting author of a contribution
  • ConfTool compares the first and last names of author and co-authors with the first and last names of the reviewer
  • ConfTool compares the e-mail addresses of author and co-authors with the e-mail address of the reviewer
  • ConfTool compares the organizations of the authors with the organization of the reviewer (optional)
  • ConfTool compares the domain names of the e-mail addresses of the authors with the domain name of the reviewer (optional)

Please go to:
Overview => Settings => Main Settings for the Review Process
... to change the option "Method for 'Conflict of Interest' Identification" and to ignore the organizations and domain names by choosing the setting "Co-authors: Consider only names and e-mails of authors and co-authors" (see image).

Hint:
You can also give reviewers the option to state a conflict of interest for papers assigned to them before they enter a review.
You will find more information here: Allow reviewers to state conflict of interest (COI)