Exploring the Benefits of a Broader Approach to Qualitative Research in Sport Psychology: A Tale of Two, or Three, James

Authors

  • Helen Hooper Keele University
  • Les Burwitz Manchester Metropolitan University
  • Phil Hodkinson University of Leeds

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-4.1.748

Keywords:

sport psychology, emotions, optimal states, elite athletes, social construction, qualitative research, longitudinal research, coded interviews

Abstract

A longitudinal case-study of emotion and sport performance is used to illustrate findings of a larger interview study conducted with 12 elite (World top ten) individual sport athletes. Although athletes' experiences were partially supportive of current theoretical standpoints, optimal states proved dynamic and related to personal, situational and social variables. Further information, gathered using more ethnographic approaches, will then be considered. The limitations of a reliance on coded interview data as a meaningful tool with which to explore athletes' experiences will be discussed in relation to the featured athlete. The existence of multiple interpretations of the athlete's story, problematises the assumption that rigorous methods, as conventionally defined, can guarantee objectivity and discover a single truth. Questions are asked of the reader regarding: the veracity of accepted approaches to the collection and presentation of data; the benefits of a broader vision for qualitative research; and the possible contribution of more interpretive approaches to the work of both practitioners and academics in sport psychology. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs030162

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Author Biographies

Helen Hooper, Keele University

Helen HOOPER is currently engaged in research looking at strategies employed by patients to cope with Rheumatoid Arthritis and low back pain, their experiences of pain and the influence of the health care context. She originally trained as a Physical Education teacher at Exeter University and completed a Masters degree at the University of North Dakota. This article is based on her PhD work that was conducted while at Manchester Metropolitan University (1996-2000). This work was funded by the Sports Council. She received British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accreditation as a sport and exercise psychologist in 1999.

Les Burwitz, Manchester Metropolitan University

Les BURWITZ is Professor and Head of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at Manchester Metropolitan University. He originally trained as a Physical Education teacher at St Luke's College and Exeter University. He completed Masters and PhD degrees at the University of Illinois under the guidance of Jack Adams and Rainer Martens. He has worked as a part-time sport science consultant since 1988 supporting elite athletes and coaches. He has been a Chair of BASES and he is currently Chair of the BASES Sport Science Special Committee, which is working in partnership with the UK Sports Institute and the British Olympic Association to enhance the systems and the education that will ensure that applied sport scientists will be able to provide a better support service to athletes and coaches in the future.

Phil Hodkinson, University of Leeds

Phil HODKINSON is Professor of Lifelong Learning, and Director of the Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Leeds. He is an experienced qualitative researcher, and has published widely both on the nature of qualitative research, and on the results of various qualitative research studies, in the field of vocational education and lifelong learning.

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Published

2003-01-31

How to Cite

Hooper, H., Burwitz, L., & Hodkinson, P. (2003). Exploring the Benefits of a Broader Approach to Qualitative Research in Sport Psychology: A Tale of Two, or Three, James. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-4.1.748

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2003): Qualitative Methods in Various Disciplines IV: Sport Sciences

Section

Thematic Issue

License

Copyright (c) 2003 Helen Hooper, Les Burwitz, Phil Hodkinson

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.