Week #3 Blog

So far, I have visited one field site and interviewed one informant.  I have also started an internet poll to help fuel my research.  In my poll I ask basic questions to find out the number of people that use supplements, how they found out about them, and how my informants view themselves.  When I did my first interview, the man I talked to seemed very confident.  He works out at a private gym six times a week and uses a protein supplement after his workouts.  I chose him because he fits what my stereotypical view of a “gym rat” is: tall, muscular, and attractive.  Of course I will interview others that do not fit my stereotype, but for my first interview, he seemed a good candidate.  When I walked into the gym I took some detailed notes on the structure of the gym, the things I sensed when I first walked in, and some other general things I noticed as I was there interviewing, such as the mirrors that surrounded the entire lifting area.  I have already begun some research on supplements such as creatine and how the bodybuilding websites portray them versus how health care professionals do. 

 I think that there is a difference between academic and non-academic research.  I feel that academic research leaves out certain sources that would be considered unreliable, such as websites like wikipedia, which can be edited by anyone.  Non-academic research could include any source despite its validity.