Journal clubs for postgraduate health psychology students: experiences and perceived impact on skills development

Abstract

Background: Understanding and being able to critique methodological issues is vital to ensure high quality health psychology research. However, students often have difficulty becoming proficient in critical thinking. Journal clubs have been used to enhance critical skills and promote the use of evidence based practice in medical students, and have the potential to enhance training in other disciplines. In 2014/15 tutors at Staffordshire University introduced journal clubs to provide Health Psychology trainees the opportunity to discuss and evaluate research. This project will explore students’ experiences of taking part in these clubs and perceptions of the value of this strategy for developing critical thinking skills. Methods: Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with 6-12 participants who engaged with journal club in the 2014-15 or 2015-16 cohort. Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2013) will be used to analyse the data. Expected results: Themes will seek to explain: (1) What it is like for students to be part of journal clubs; (2) the skills developed as a result of engaging in the clubs; and (3) recommendations for future strategies to help develop critical evaluation in Health Psychology Trainees. Current stage of work: Ethical approval has been granted. Data collection starts in February. Discussion: Results will inform the development of health psychology journal clubs. Such clubs could be used more widely to develop understanding of methodological issues in research and critical thinking in trainee health psychologists and other health care professionals.