Knowledge, Quality and Web 2.0 in Sport & Exercise Science

One of the things that comes up in conversations about iStadia is the lack of quality control, or the lack of quality control as perceived by sport scientists that have been indoctrinated into the epistemologies that dominate scientific research, and processes such as peer review.

But what is "quality" in (or on?) Web 2.0?

Web 1.0 was one way communication, from 'authoritative" sources. Web 2.0 is about user generated content, and two-way communication.

So, in this world, what is "quality", and who decides?

My response is that iStadia is "by the community, for the community", so the community decides. Whether that be in the form of comments or ratings on the site, or "diggs" or other bookmarks off it, it is up to the community itself to challenge poor quality and support high quality posts. And in the community, everyone has a voice....

Formal qualifications do not matter as much in this new world. I would rate Dan Peterson as our best contributor since he joined. His posts are well-researched (particularly for a guy that isn't at a University and doesn't have unlimited access to journals or databases or articles), thoughtful and stimulating. What's his background? He's an IT director, parent and sometime coach, but he's out there, putting himself on the line, while "authorities" in the field of sport and exercise stay in their comfort zone - the academic community. What's also important is that Dan writes with the humility of someone who knows their limits (or actually overestimates their limits) and doesn't claim to be an authority on anything - just an interested observer.

And peer review? Well, playing the devil's advocate: so what? Who should be the judge and arbitrer of what's good or not so good? In sport and exercise science shouldn't the coaches, the athletes, the trainers and the exercisers be the ones that judge?

Indeed, while I'd never suggest scrapping peer reviewed communication, is it good enough for sport and exercise scientists simply to talk among themselves when they have the tools to talk to a wider audience?

If you have an opinion on this - please comment!

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Rob Robson
Co-founder, iStadia.com