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.
What makes a good supervisor?
Getting a PhD is a necessary but insufficient part of becoming a good supervisor. The skills required to become an academic do not match the skills needed to lead others on their journey through developing as a researcher. These two statements are not explored enough within university settings.
In this video I outline some of the key ideas that I have used to develop as a supervisor. This has taken time, effort and personal reflection. But without this process I would not be able to provide the level of support, encouragement and direction that I think a supervisor owes to their students.
Are degrees wasted on teenagers?
In this video I start by talking through some of my own personal experiences of going to university and teaching undergraduate students for over a decade. I make the case that some young people should wait a while before going to university, and that it is often outdated myths that are important parts of what push some people to start higher education before they’re ready.
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.
Study skills with Dr. David Hindley: First year undergraduate success
Here’s the latest study skills chat with my colleague Dr. David Hindley. David is a Principal Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University with over two decades of experience teaching in HE. He’s supported students in various ways for this time and specialises in developing innovative teaching strategies.
Exploring drugs and doping with Dr. Paul Dimeo
Paul is a Reader at the University of Stirling and he’s a leader in the field of drug use in sport. Here, we discuss a bunch of issues connected to drug use, doping regulations and various logical inconsistencies regarding the ‘war on drugs’. We explore a range of examples and compare how drug use and users were, and are treated in very different ways to what has become normalised in the world of elite, and now sub-elite sport.
Synthesising theory with Dr. Alex Channon
Dr. Alex Channon of the University of Brighton and I talk through key ideas in the sociology of deviancy in sport. The goal was to outline the importance of theoretical synthesis, or as I term it; ‘bringing academic ideas together’ in order to frame our understanding of complex social issues.
OPD interview with Joe Jeffrey and Austin Stout
This is a recording of my appearance on the OPD (Optimal Physique Development) podcast with Joe Jeffrey and Austin Stout. We discussed critical thinking, social science, subcultures, performance enhancing, strength sports and bodybuilding.
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.
Structuring an analysis of complex problems
In this video I propose the idea of a complex of ideas, rather than complex ideas. This means we can bring together simple ways of thinking about a topic and structuring them in a way that helps us explain a complex issue.
In this regard, we’re talking about a complex (different things that are connected in some way) rather something being complex (confusing and hard to understand).
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.
A different take on module development
I recorded this video after a week of external examining. It’s at this time of the academic year that colleagues will begin (hopefully after a break) thinking about next year's teaching. So I wanted to get a few thoughts recorded about how I encourage people to think about module development.
With most universities suggesting a move to a ‘hybrid’ between online and face-to-face teaching, now is a good time to start reconsidering some of the fundamentals of teaching and learning. This video focuses on a few of them rather than going into the specifics of moving courses online or whatnot.
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