Thoughts and Ideas
This section is a space for me to consider issues within society and contemporary culture.
Here, I’ll introduce and further develop ideas I like to work with, explain and expand on issues that stem from previous projects, as well as consider immersive research and developing practices.
Study a PhD with Dr. Christopher R. Matthews
I specialise in conducting and supervising immersive research, but I’m keen to discuss various projects and research methods with prospective students as well.
Academic book chapters: the good, the bad and the lovely
Academic book chapters can be great to write. In this video, I talk about the good, the bad and the lovely.
What questions should I ask in my interviews?
Considering interviews as a one-off research event is too restrictive and doesn’t allow us to get the most out of the method. Thinking of interviews as part of a coherent strategy that unfolds over time is one way we can move past this.
Academic Chatter with Dr. James Steele
James is an Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at Solent University. In this video, we talk about teaching research methods, learning to teach using minimal preparation and what it means to try to take control of your career.
Immersion in action research with Dr. Cathy van Ingen
I’ve relied on Cathy’s work in my teaching and publications so, I wanted to explore two main issues with her. Firstly, how Cathy maintains the scientific basis of her work while acknowledging that it has an ideological basis. And secondly, to discuss some of the challenging stories that come from doing 13+ years of conducting research with people who have suffered some form of trauma.
Getting inside the steroid industry with Dr. Luke Turnock
In building an immersive research strategy, based on his existing personal contacts within a powerlifting community, Luke was able to gain access to information about the underground production of steroids.
Concussion activism and immersion with Peter Robinson
This is a somewhat different take on immersive research. Peter is an activist and campaigner who has spent years trying to raise awareness and change policy in relation to concussion in sport. I wanted to speak to him to highlight his important message but also to demonstrate how experiences can drive our understanding of a topic.
Immersion in social change with Dr. Megan Chawansky
Megan is a researcher, lecturer and activist based at Otterbein University. Her work focuses on the ways sport can be used to help change society in positive ways. She’s been involved in some incredible projects with really challenging sets of culture and interpersonal dynamics.
Immersion in male dominated spaces with Dr. Emma Poulton
Emma is an Associate Professor at Durham University. She’s published widely on areas of social science including national identity, racism, media representations of football fan culture and hooliganism.
How do we explain athlete abuse with Dr. Natalie Barker-Ruchti
Natalie has been immersed in gymnastics since she was a child. She’s used her detailed knowledge of the sport to help explore issues around abuse in the sport. We talk about the methodological strengths and weaknesses that come with being a cultural insider.
Immersion in performance sport with Dr. Alex Culvin: Some findings from women’s football and men’s boxing
I was lucky enough to have Dr. Alex Culvin speak to me about her research in professional women’s football. Her career at the top end of the sport has resulted in her having fantastic access to elite players at a key time for the sport, so we consider how shared experiences can be a great way of gaining insight during interviews.
Getting immersed in football with Dr. Geoff Pearson
In this video I chat with Geoff Pearson from Manchester University about his ethnographic work in football. We cover a bunch of topics that will be useful if you’re considering doing similar work.
Starting to think about immersive research
In this video, I discuss some foundational issues that can help you get started thinking about immersive research.
Love Fighting Hate Violence: Engaging people in academic projects with emotion
Emotional language is often avoided in academic research, writing or teaching. In conforming to this academic norm, scholars hope to demonstrate that their research is isolated from personal attachments and the biases these might involve.
While this can be considered an important element of the scientific method, it does not capture the realities of human life more broadly. In this article I discuss this in relation to an anti-violence project that a colleague and I co-founded.
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