The uncertainties of enhancement: A mixed-methods study on the use of substances for cognitive enhancement and it’s unintended consequences

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Standard

The uncertainties of enhancement : A mixed-methods study on the use of substances for cognitive enhancement and it’s unintended consequences. / Petersen, Margit Anne; Enghoff, Oskar; Demant, Jakob Johan.

In: Performance Enhancement & Health, Vol. 3-4, 2019, p. 111-120.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Petersen, MA, Enghoff, O & Demant, JJ 2019, 'The uncertainties of enhancement: A mixed-methods study on the use of substances for cognitive enhancement and it’s unintended consequences', Performance Enhancement & Health, vol. 3-4, pp. 111-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2018.09.001

APA

Petersen, M. A., Enghoff, O., & Demant, J. J. (2019). The uncertainties of enhancement: A mixed-methods study on the use of substances for cognitive enhancement and it’s unintended consequences. Performance Enhancement & Health, 3-4, 111-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2018.09.001

Vancouver

Petersen MA, Enghoff O, Demant JJ. The uncertainties of enhancement: A mixed-methods study on the use of substances for cognitive enhancement and it’s unintended consequences. Performance Enhancement & Health. 2019;3-4:111-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2018.09.001

Author

Petersen, Margit Anne ; Enghoff, Oskar ; Demant, Jakob Johan. / The uncertainties of enhancement : A mixed-methods study on the use of substances for cognitive enhancement and it’s unintended consequences. In: Performance Enhancement & Health. 2019 ; Vol. 3-4. pp. 111-120.

Bibtex

@article{b7f03c33099340baa98c4656eb5292e9,
title = "The uncertainties of enhancement: A mixed-methods study on the use of substances for cognitive enhancement and it{\textquoteright}s unintended consequences",
abstract = "AimsThe use of substances for cognitive enhancement has become a relatively well-studied phenomenon in recent years. However, few studies deal with the negative and unintended consequences of such practices. This article uses two data sets to explore and discuss the doubt and negative consequences that affect people using substances in the pursuit of enhancing cognition.MethodsData for the study are drawn from an online discussion forum on substances for enhancement and from ethnographic fieldwork carried out among university students in New York City. Taking a quali-quantitative approach, we combine digital text analytic tools with qualitative analysis and readings.FindingsUsing prescription stimulants and other substances for cognitive enhancement generates considerable uncertainty in terms of unclear effects, varying practices and ambivalent ethics. While the negative effects are not something easily discussed in person, references to them are very common in the online discussion forum.ConclusionsPeople who use substances for enhancement have developed a {\textquoteleft}folk pharmacology{\textquoteright} that seems to play an important role in how they perceive the negative effects. This may make people who engage in these kinds of enhancement practices less able to make informed choices about their use of these substances.",
keywords = "Faculty of Social Sciences, Cognitive enhancement, Substances, Prescription stimulants, Uncertainty, Quali-quantitative methods, Folk pharmacology",
author = "Petersen, {Margit Anne} and Oskar Enghoff and Demant, {Jakob Johan}",
year = "2019",
doi = "10.1016/j.peh.2018.09.001",
language = "English",
volume = "3-4",
pages = "111--120",
journal = "Performance Enhancement & Health",
issn = "2211-2669",
publisher = "Elsevier",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The uncertainties of enhancement

T2 - A mixed-methods study on the use of substances for cognitive enhancement and it’s unintended consequences

AU - Petersen, Margit Anne

AU - Enghoff, Oskar

AU - Demant, Jakob Johan

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - AimsThe use of substances for cognitive enhancement has become a relatively well-studied phenomenon in recent years. However, few studies deal with the negative and unintended consequences of such practices. This article uses two data sets to explore and discuss the doubt and negative consequences that affect people using substances in the pursuit of enhancing cognition.MethodsData for the study are drawn from an online discussion forum on substances for enhancement and from ethnographic fieldwork carried out among university students in New York City. Taking a quali-quantitative approach, we combine digital text analytic tools with qualitative analysis and readings.FindingsUsing prescription stimulants and other substances for cognitive enhancement generates considerable uncertainty in terms of unclear effects, varying practices and ambivalent ethics. While the negative effects are not something easily discussed in person, references to them are very common in the online discussion forum.ConclusionsPeople who use substances for enhancement have developed a ‘folk pharmacology’ that seems to play an important role in how they perceive the negative effects. This may make people who engage in these kinds of enhancement practices less able to make informed choices about their use of these substances.

AB - AimsThe use of substances for cognitive enhancement has become a relatively well-studied phenomenon in recent years. However, few studies deal with the negative and unintended consequences of such practices. This article uses two data sets to explore and discuss the doubt and negative consequences that affect people using substances in the pursuit of enhancing cognition.MethodsData for the study are drawn from an online discussion forum on substances for enhancement and from ethnographic fieldwork carried out among university students in New York City. Taking a quali-quantitative approach, we combine digital text analytic tools with qualitative analysis and readings.FindingsUsing prescription stimulants and other substances for cognitive enhancement generates considerable uncertainty in terms of unclear effects, varying practices and ambivalent ethics. While the negative effects are not something easily discussed in person, references to them are very common in the online discussion forum.ConclusionsPeople who use substances for enhancement have developed a ‘folk pharmacology’ that seems to play an important role in how they perceive the negative effects. This may make people who engage in these kinds of enhancement practices less able to make informed choices about their use of these substances.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Cognitive enhancement

KW - Substances

KW - Prescription stimulants

KW - Uncertainty

KW - Quali-quantitative methods

KW - Folk pharmacology

U2 - 10.1016/j.peh.2018.09.001

DO - 10.1016/j.peh.2018.09.001

M3 - Journal article

VL - 3-4

SP - 111

EP - 120

JO - Performance Enhancement & Health

JF - Performance Enhancement & Health

SN - 2211-2669

ER -

ID: 209221579