Using a range of recruitment strategies to recruit those who use anabolic androgenic steroids.

Abstract

Collecting data from people who use substances can be challenging. As many now have communities in the digital realm, recruitment via online networks has become a popular method with hard-to-reach participants. This paper seeks to share the pros and cons of different types of recruitment (both online and non-virtually) for those who choose to use androgenic anabolic steroids. Method: This case study highlights positive and negative factors to consider for questionnaire design and dissemination via social media platforms and traditional methods. Findings and Results: Key lessons with regards to online dissemination via social media include the benefits of using specialist hashtags, access to specialist online fora with respite gatekeeper endorsement, awareness of the impact on reputation for those asked to share, and anonymity. Questionnaire design findings emphasise the importance of piloting the questionnaire, giving consideration to how participants from specific populations may react to the way questions are phrased, and the need for awareness of specific sensitivities of topic of the targeted demographic sub-group. This paper will help sociologists and other social and behavioural science researchers who wish to consider and evaluate their own distribution methods for data collection when it comes to seeking out more hard-to-reach groups.