Why can a researcher's membership on an advisory board create a conflict of interest (COI)?

A researcher's membership on an advisory board can create a conflict of interest because it may compromise their perceived neutrality. When someone is involved in an advisory board, their relationship with the organization can lead to biases in how they conduct or report their research. Observers may question the impartiality of the researcher's findings due to their relationship with the advisory board, interpreting any favorable research outcomes as potentially influenced by their affiliation rather than being based solely on objective analysis. This perceived lack of objectivity can undermine the credibility of the research and raise concerns about the integrity of the findings.

The other options, while they may relate to different aspects of research integrity, do not address the direct impact of an advisory board membership on the perceived neutrality of the researcher. For example, flaws in research results due to missing data pertain more to methodological issues rather than professional affiliations, and policies of the organization can influence but do not inherently question the researcher's objectivity. Similarly, familiarity among advisory board members does not directly relate to the researcher's ability to remain neutral in their assessments.