Pseudo-scientific knowledge in supplementation and performance enhancing drug use
Drug taking and supplementation has been associated with participation in sport and physical activities at various levels for decades.
While a wealth of research has begun to accumulate in some areas of academia there are still a number of key gaps:
There is a lack of consistency and rigour in the underlying knowledge base of those who use supplements and/or performance enhancing drugs on a regular basis.
Increasingly, people seek advice about supplements, performance enhancing drugs and health related issues connected to both via media ‘influencers’ and online coaches.
While some online coaches may be well intentioned and have years of detailed anecdotal and sometimes scientific knowledge, there is a large variety of what counts as qualifications for these people.
Experience in training, body development (size and leanness) and online presence are often the most important factors that people are initially drawn to when seeking advice about supplements and performance enhancing drugs.
Advice offered from medical professionals is often rejected or ignored by subcultural insiders as being ‘out of touch’ with the realities of the lives of those involved in sports and aesthetic competitions.
Key academic work has highlighted a series of issues that provide context for the above points, but despite recent examples much of this research was conducted before the rise of social media and by academics that, notwithstanding their best efforts, can be considered as outsiders within the subcultures they were attempting to research.
This project will build on my recent work (Matthews and Jordan, 2019) exploring supplement and drug use using immersive research strategies in addition to providing insights that develop this body of work.
The ideal candidate will have a personal interest in subcultures where drug use and abuse are prevalent, be able to demonstrate a willingness to develop skills in various qualitative research methods, and an ability to work well independently and under academic supervision.
Access to such spaces can be challenging so some pre-existing contacts would be useful, but not essential.