Researchers use journal clubs to be up to date with the recently published literature in their field. However, a study by Good & McIntyre emphasizes the importance of journal clubs in nutrition courses to help students learn how to read scientific literature properly. The article describes and compares the results of implementing a journal club into three different course formats: a journal club component in a capstone course, an elective journal club class, and a summer undergraduate research program. Results were analyzed by determining the significant differences between the course formats and how they perceived gain in critical thinking skills by reading, understanding, interpreting, and critiquing scientific literature and distinguishing facts from assumptions. The findings show that implementing a journal component in a capstone course had better results compared to the elective journal club class and a summer undergraduate research program.

Good, D. J., & Mcintyre, C. M. (2015). Use of Journal Clubs Within Senior Capstone Courses: Analysis of Perceived Gains in Reviewing Scientific Literature. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 47(5). 477-479 doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2015.05.003