Using Preprints for Journal Clubs

ABSTRACT Journal clubs are important mechanisms for teaching how to approach the scientific literature critically and for disseminating findings. Papers from high-impact journals often dominate journal club selections, a practice that reinforces the unscientific emphasis of placing high value on pub...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Arturo Casadevall, Neil Gow
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2018-05-01
Series:mBio
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.00516-18
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT Journal clubs are important mechanisms for teaching how to approach the scientific literature critically and for disseminating findings. Papers from high-impact journals often dominate journal club selections, a practice that reinforces the unscientific emphasis of placing high value on publishing venue rather than scientific content and critical analysis of the publications. We suggest improving journal clubs by including preprints rather than focusing completely on published papers. This change in practice might benefit the scientific enterprise in numerous ways, including by providing direct criticisms to preprint authors before publication, deemphasizing publishing venue, teaching students the art of reviewing papers, and making journal clubs more current by discussing unpublished data.
ISSN:2150-7511