Participatory Research in Sport and Physical Activity

Book excerpt: This is the first book to focus on participatory research in the context of sport and physical activity. It explores the transformative potential of participatory research methods and provides an introduction to the practicalities of doing participatory research in sport and physical activity. The book is structured around phases of the research process, covering research design, data collection, data analysis, and knowledge mobilization and translation. Chapters cover research design topics such as building research partnerships, reflexivity and ethical issues; methods such as social photo-elicitation, go-along interviews, and biographical mapping; analytical approaches such as collective memory work and collaborative analysis; and knowledge mobilization and translation topics such as podcasting, digital tools, and peer review. Every chapter includes a review of key developments, a guide to how that approach can be employed, an example from the author’s own work, and critical reflections on how that approach can shape future research and have an impact on public discourse. This book is an invaluable resource for students and researchers working in sport studies, the sociology of sport, sport and exercise psychology, sport management and policy, and human movement and health studies more broadly. It will be particularly useful for those interested in diverse and inclusive approaches to qualitative research methodologies.