The immediate past Dean of the School of Public Health at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Prof. Samuel Kofi Newton, has urged researchers to uphold integrity in data analysis and manuscript preparation, warning that ethical lapses can undermine scientific credibility and distort decision-making.
Prof. Newton made the remarks while delivering a presentation on ethics and scientific writing at the orientation programme for regular master’s and PhD students of the School of Public Health for the 2025/2026 academic year.
He described research writing as a demanding task, noting that even strong and innovative studies can face delays, extensive revisions or rejection if poorly written. Weak scientific writing, he said, often results in delayed publication or the rejection of manuscripts and theses.
Prof. Newton stressed that scientific writing is a learnable skill, adding that clarity, logical organisation and proper structure are essential for communicating research findings effectively.
He encouraged students to master the widely used IMRaD structure: Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion, explaining that while the introduction justifies the study and the methods describe what was done, the discussion section is often the most challenging because it interprets findings and explains their implications.
He further emphasised that scientific research is built on trust, urging students to maintain honesty in manuscript and thesis preparation, particularly in accurately describing research designs and analysing data correctly.
Prof. Newton cautioned against research misconduct, including fabrication, falsification and plagiarism, saying such practices compromise the integrity of science and can have lasting consequences for academic careers.
He also outlined common forms of plagiarism, including close paraphrasing, copying without acknowledgement and using others’ ideas without proper referencing, stressing that all sources must be properly cited, whether quoted directly or paraphrased.
The orientation programme also featured presentations by faculty members aimed at equipping students with academic, administrative and professional guidance. Topics covered included course registration and examination procedures, student support services, and the structure of the first year of the PhD programme, including core courses, systematic and scoping reviews, scientific writing, presentations and comprehensive examinations.
Additional sessions addressed PhD student participation in departmental activities, new academic programmes, available resources such as policies, computer laboratories and libraries, as well as the past, present and future of the School of Public Health. Students were also briefed on career prospects in public health, alumni engagement, managing supervisory
By: Edith Asravor
