Canon Fodder
Fandom, Faith & Digital Connection
A comparative study of Star Trek and modern belief systems, exploring how digital media shapes community, canon, and belonging.
Begin Survey ▸This research explores how digital media influences community engagement and belief systems within fan communities. We are interested in understanding how people interact online, form communities, and develop shared beliefs through their participation in fan-related activities.
The study draws on parallels between fan communities and religious communities – shared texts, interpretive debates, rituals, devotion, and identity – to ask what fandom means in the digital age.
You are eligible if you are aged 18 or over, are attending Star Trek Las Vegas 2026 (60th Anniversary Convention), are an English speaker, self-identify as part of a fan community, and are willing to provide informed consent.
Important: You must be aged 18 or over to take part. If you are under 18, you are not eligible to participate.
Stage 1 – Survey (15–18 minutes): A digital survey covering your experiences with fan communities, digital media use, perspectives on canon and authority, and related beliefs. All questions are optional.
Stage 2 – Video Interview (15–30 minutes, optional): A recorded conversation where we explore your survey responses in more depth. You may pause or stop the recording at any time.
Participation is completely voluntary. You can withdraw at any time up to the deadline without giving a reason. You have 30 days after participation to withdraw your data.
Contact the researcher at R.P.Matthews@pgr.bham.ac.uk with your participant ID or participation date. The researcher will respond within 48 hours and delete your data within 7 days.
Final withdrawal deadline: 11 September 2026.
Your data is used for academic research only – journals, conferences, and possible creative practice projects. It will not be used commercially or shared with third parties.
All data is stored on secure, password-protected university servers for 10 years. Video recordings are encrypted with restricted access. Compliant with UK GDPR and US IRB standards.