Athagora Independence, Funding & Conflicts Policy

Independence by design

A client can fund the question. They cannot buy the answer.

Athagora operates commercially.

Commercial work does not remove the need for independent judgement.

What clients can do

Clients may:

• define a problem
• commission a research question
• provide relevant information
• challenge methodology
• identify factual errors
• request additional analysis
• explain commercial context

What clients cannot do

Clients cannot require Athagora to knowingly describe an unsupported conclusion as evidence.

Where the evidence does not support the expected answer, Athagora says so.

Where evidence is inconclusive, Athagora does not manufacture certainty.

Sponsored research

Research funding is disclosed where knowledge of the relationship would materially affect how a reasonable reader understands the work.

Where a sponsor funds a study but does not control the findings, we make that distinction clear.

Where content is advertising, advertorial or another form of commercial communication, it is identified appropriately.

Conflicts of interest

Relevant commercial, financial or personal relationships that could reasonably affect confidence in a piece of research are considered and managed.

Possible responses include:

• disclosure
• independent review
• separation of workstreams
• restricting access to confidential information
• reducing an individual's involvement
• declining the work

Client confidentiality

Confidential information received from one client must not be improperly used for another client's advantage.

Gifts, hospitality and access

Gifts, hospitality, event access or relationships do not determine Athagora's research conclusions.

Material benefits connected to research are disclosed where appropriate.

Refusing work

Athagora may decline an engagement where:

• the client requires a predetermined conclusion
• the requested methodology is deceptive or disproportionate
• an unmanageable conflict exists
• the available evidence cannot reasonably support the requested claim
• the project exploits children or vulnerable people
• the primary purpose is gambling optimisation
• the work materially conflicts with Athagora's research standards