Use of Study Drugs by Field of Study

Topic: the use of study drugs on Emory's campus


An unresolved question: 

Is there a link between non-medical use of study drugs and number of classes, rigor of class schedule, degree of involvement in extra-curricular activities, etc.?


General knowledge:

Based on the work of researchers such as DeSantis et al. (2010) and Teter et al. (2006) key motivators include being able to study for longer stretches of time and enhancing reading comprehension, cognition, and memory.


Narrowest possible description of my question:

Does the use of study drugs on elite campuses vary based on field of study?


What is the data I will gather? How will it help answer a scholarly debate?

I will collect demographic data on non-medical use of study drugs focusing on field of study. I will also assess what Emory students use as key motivators/justifications for such use and whether these motivators differ across fields of study.

I think my data will help to further parse out what it is that causes non-medical use of study drugs. We live in a hyper-competitive environment and many students nationwide seem to feel compelled to take them for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons include: there are relatively low stigmas against its use, the future dividends of scholastic achievement justify the means, and to not fall behind others who habitually take study drugs.

Emory students and administration have the ability to shape the environment we live in. Perhaps if we can find out what drives students towards these extreme measures we can begin to implement change to ease the levels of stress and competition we as a university currently experience.