Purpose

The purpose of this article is to examine conflicts of interest (COI) in qualitative social research with multiple and often powerful stakeholders such as organisations and funders.

Design/methodology/approach

The article offers an explorative qualitative analysis of a selected group of Danish doctoral students' experiences and negotiations of COI in their qualitative, multiple stakeholder research. The point of departure is that while potential and readily identifiable sources of COI, such as funding institutions, are important to disclose this may provide inadequate insight into stakeholders' actual – and potentially undue – influence on the research during the research process. This calls for a focus on research practice. Finally, the current neoliberal policy changes affecting universities provide the backdrop for the study.

Findings

Focusing on negotiations around COI in practice, the analysis illuminates the complex reality of negotiating different – and sometimes conflicting – expectations and interests when conducting long-term qualitative studies. It also shows examples of stakeholders' attempts to potentially, and unduly, influence doctoral students' research. Finally, it suggests that stakeholders and researchers alike can be both powerful and potentially vulnerable when engaging in qualitative research.

Originality/value

The article contributes to the existing literature by explicitly focusing on COI in qualitative social research, and by exploring experiences and negotiations of COI in practice.

中文翻译：

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谈判利益冲突：与多个利益相关者合作

目的

本文的目的是要与组织和资助者等众多且往往是有实力的利益相关者一起，进行定性社会研究中的利益冲突（COI）。

设计/方法/方法

本文对选定的一组丹麦博士研究生的经验进行了定性分析，并对他们在定性的，多个利益相关者研究中的COI进行了谈判。出发点是，尽管潜在的和容易识别的COI来源（例如资助机构）对于披露很重要，但可能无法充分了解利益相关者在研究过程中对研究的实际影响，甚至可能对其造成不必要的影响。这要求重点放在研究实践上。最后，当前影响大学的新自由主义政策变化为研究提供了背景。

发现

该分析着重于实践中围绕COI的谈判，阐明了进行长期定性研究时，谈判不同的，有时是相互冲突的期望和利益的复杂现实。它也显示了利益相关者试图潜在地并且不适当地影响博士生研究的例子。最后，它表明，在进行定性研究时，利益相关者和研究人员都可能既强大又潜在脆弱。

创意/价值

本文通过在定性社会研究中明确关注COI，并在实践中探索COI的经验和谈判，为现有文献做出了贡献。