In this Research Reflections blog, Research Officer Beth will be introducing the Journal Club that she runs as part of the Research Ambassador Network WhatsApp group.
At Healthwatch Essex, we believe that health and social care research should be accessible, fun and engaging. One of the ways that we do this is through our Research Ambassador Network – a growing community of individuals who are interested in learning about research and building their research skills.
Our WhatsApp Community
A key part of staying connected as a network is through our Research Ambassador WhatsApp group. This is a space for our ambassadors to share updates on current projects they are involved in through education or work, ask research-related questions, and support each other. It is a friendly, accessible way to stay in touch and build a sense of community.
Introducing our Journal Club
One of the highlights of our WhatsApp group is the Journal Club – a supportive space for members of our Research Ambassador Network to come together to explore research, reflect on what they have read and share ideas with one another.
Whether you are new to research, or already immersed in it, the Journal Club is there to help you broaden your knowledge of health and social care, learn more about research methodologies and connect with others who are as equally curious about research as you!
What happens in the Journal Club?
Each month a different Research Ambassador selects a journal article that they have found interesting. This might be related to a health or social care topic they are passionate about, something that has come up in their studies or work, or simply a piece that they enjoy reading. We ask that any articles sent into the chat are open access, to ensure that everyone involved can enjoy the reading.
Once the article has been shared, everyone in the group is encouraged to read it and take the month to share their insights. There’s no pressure to write an in-depth reflection – responses often discuss:
- Something that has stood out to you.
- A question the article may have raised.
- Something you have learned from the article.
- A thought about the method they used to conduct the research.
It’s all about learning new things from each other in a way that is flexible, informal and inclusive!
Learning, together:
One of the strengths of the Journal Club is that it brings together people with different experiences – from students and social research degree apprentices to lived experience researchers and NHS staff. This variety of perspectives creates insightful conversations.
There is no need to be a pro at reading academic articles or have any formal research training. We’re here to support each other to read more, reflect more, and feel more confident engaging with research.
Sharing what we learn
To highlight the range of articles we read and conversations we have, each month we will be posting an update on our social media to highlight our ‘Article of the month’. This will also demonstrate the type of reflections our research ambassadors share about the articles.
We’re excited to shine a light on what we are learning in our group – and to encourage others to get involved in the conversation too.
Quotes from our Research Ambassadors
Here are a few reflections from our ambassadors on what they have enjoyed about the journal club so far:
“I enjoy learning new things and getting to know other people’s experiences by participating in the journal club”
“By being in the journal club, I was able to get over my shyness and be able to communicate with other people more freely. Also, journal club helped me to exercise my critical thinking skills. Even though I am busy, I still try my best to find time to respond and learn about other people’s interests”
Beth Pittuck,
Research Officer