When the “how” may at least matter as much as the “what”: The value of qualitative approaches in doping research

In recent years, the study of the socio-cognitive determinants and correlates of doping use has been the focus of much psychological and psychosocial inquiry. Much of this scientific focus has departed from the general consensus that doping use is an illicit behavior which is unhealthy and intentionally adopted to achieve a specific objective or goal. In the broad sport arena, the specific objectives may obviously also vary with the professional level one has reached in a particular sport. It is, for instance, of no surprise that doping studies conducted with high-level athletes have shown that performance enhancement represents one of the key objectives athletes seek to achieve by using doping substances. Doping studies conducted either with amateur and young athletes or with those who habitually practice physical exercise show, on the contrary, that doping use may serve aesthetic purposes or one’s need to achieve or match an idealized, socially constructed, body image. The present chapter will briefly summarize results from the main quantitative approaches based on surveys and will discuss the qualitative approaches used so far in doping research, and will provide suggestions for mixed-method designs that can be implemented in future studies.