You are here

Disable VAT on Taiwan

Unfortunately, as of 1 January 2020 SAGE Ltd is no longer able to support sales of electronically supplied services to Taiwan customers that are not Taiwan VAT registered. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information or to place a print-only order, please contact uk.customerservices@sagepub.co.uk.

Qualitative Research in Sport and Physical Activity
Share
Share

Qualitative Research in Sport and Physical Activity



November 2012 | 240 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Designed especially for students in sport and physical activity, this book provides a detailed guide to planning, undertaking, and writing up qualitative research. Opening with a discussion of the main traits of qualitative inquiry and its use in sport and physical activity, the authors provide a coherent and accessible overview of qualitative research using numerous examples to bring the text alive. The book is divided into five parts informed by stages in the research process, with chapters on:

• early steps in the research process

• ethics

• choosing your an approach

• methods of data collection

• analysing the data

• writing up and disseminating your findings.

This is essential reading for undergraduate and Masters students carrying out a qualitative research project in sport and physical activity and for PhD students looking to refresh their knowledge.

 
PART ONE: INTRODUCING QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN SPORT
 
Qualitative Research and Its Use in Sport and Physical Activity
The Main Characteristics of Qualitative Research

 
Qualitative Research in Sport and Physical Activity

 
 
Ethical Considerations in Research
Recruiting Participants

 
Informed Consent

 
Confidentiality and Anonymity

 
Avoiding Harm

 
 
Developing the Research Question and Writing the Proposal
The topic and Research Question

 
Writing the Proposal

 
 
The Role of the Literature in Qualitative Research
The Literature and the Proposal

 
The Literature Overview

 
The Inductive Approach

 
The Ongoing Dialogue with the Literature

 
Keeping Track of References

 
 
Sampling
Purposive Sampling

 
Sampling Types

 
Sampling Decisions

 
Accessing the Sample

 
Referring to the Sample

 
 
PART TWO: COLLECTING QUALITATIVE DATA
 
Interviews
Types of Interview

 
Variety of Interviews

 
Asking Questions

 
Interviewing Skills

 
The Relationship Between Interviewer and Participants

 
Practical Sspects of Interviewing

 
Potential Problems in Interviewing

 
 
Focus Groups
The Origin and Purpose of Focus Groups

 
Choosing the Sample: Size, Number and Composition

 
Conducting Focus Group Interviews

 
The Involvement of the Interviewer

 
Analysing Focus Group Data

 
Ethical Issues

 
Advantages and Limitations of Focus Groups

 
 
Participant Observation
The research Setting

 
Types of Observation

 
Getting Started

 
Keeping a Record

 
Using Documentary Sources of Data

 
Problematic Issues

 
 
PART THREE: CHOOSING THE RESEARCH APPROACH
 
Grounded Theory
The Origins of Grounded Theory

 
The Main Elements of Grounded Theory

 
The Process of GT: Data Collection and Analysis

 
The Developing Theory

 
Problems in Grounded Theory

 
 
Ethnography
Fieldwork

 
A Focus on Culture

 
Ethnographic Methods

 
Sample and Setting

 
The Ethnographic Record

 
Analysis and Interpretation

 
Problems in Conducting Ethnographic Research

 
 
Phenomenology
Descriptive and Interpretive Phenomenology

 
Eliciting Life-World Descriptions

 
The Use of Bracketing and Sensitising

 
The Findings of Phenomenological Research

 
Sampling

 
Phenomenological Interviews

 
Analysis in Descriptive and Hermeneutic Phenomenology

 
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)

 
Limitations

 
 
Narrative Research
Stories and Their Structure

 
Types of Story

 
The Functions of People’s Stories

 
Collecting Data

 
Narrative Analysis

 
The Distinctive Nature of Narrative Research

 
A Critique of Narrative Research

 
 
Mixed Methods Research
Adopting Mixed Methods Research

 
Designing Mixed Methods Research

 
The problems Inherent in Mixed Methods Research

 
 
PART FOUR: ANALYSING AND REPORTING QUALITATIVE DATA
 
Data Analysis
Managing the Data

 
Transcribing and Writing Memos

 
Data Reduction and Conceptualisation: Codes, Categories and Themes

 
Computer-aided Analysis of Qualitative Data

 
Interpreting the Data

 
 
The Quality of Qualitative Inquiry
Validity and Reliability

 
Alternative Criteria for Qualitative Research

 
How to Ensure Trustworthiness

 
 
Writing Up Qualitative Research
Writing in the First Person

 
The Format of the Report

 
Checklist Before Submission

 
Telling the Tale: Creativity and Originality

 
Publishing and Presenting the Research

 
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index

This is a useful text in addition to other Research Methods texts. Offers expertise and good views on Qualitative Research as well as providing learners with an alternative angle from which to understand the topic. Excellent to use for further reading due to the plethora of references throughout the text.

Mr John Harrison
Care, Sport and Leisure, Tyne Metro College
July 10, 2014

An excellent overview of the qualitative techniques available to allow a critical justification for undergraduate and post graduate methodology.

Gary Lowe
Department of Sport and Exercise, Staffordshire University
June 23, 2014

This book provides an overview of the key qualitative methods that are traditionally used and also provides some excellent examples of published research from a range of sport and exercise sciences.

Dr James Rumbold
Faculty of Health & Wellbeing, Sheffield Hallam University
May 28, 2014

Very useful book, a good overview of various methodologies and research design.

Miss Emma Morris
School of Education, Newman Univ.
April 8, 2014

Very comprehensive with coverage of major qualitative methods to facilitate deeper lines of enquiry

Mr Dale Forsdyke
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, York St John University College
December 5, 2013

This book is excellent in places. Recommended to students who embark on some of the lesser used methods in flexible design approaches to undergraduate research in sport studies.

Dr Jon Cryer
Faculty of Sport, Health and Social Care, Gloucestershire University
September 12, 2013

This is a welcome addition to the research methods literature in that if offers a sporting perspective to qualitative methods. From my experience, sports students struggle to appreciate the nuances involved in qualitative research and this text provides a useful guide for undergraduates.

Mr Paul Salisbury
Sport, Health, Leisure and Nutrition, Leeds Trinity and All Saints
July 23, 2013

Really liked content of book. Good range and very useful for many sections of modules that will be covered with undergraduate students

Miss Helen Thornalley
Education, St Mary's College
May 24, 2013

A great book to social worker that research sport as a social inclusion field.

Mr Vanda Ramalho
ISSS, ISSS
April 12, 2013

A useful addition to any library, this text offers insight to a range of qualitatve methods and is written in a style which many undergraduate students are likely to find accessible. Definitely a recommended text for any sport science/physical education programme.

Dr Alexander Channon
Department of Secondary Education, Greenwich University
March 19, 2013

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1


For instructors

Purchasing options

Please select a format:

ISBN: 9781446207451
£51.00
ISBN: 9781446207444
£139.00

SAGE Knowledge is the ultimate social sciences digital library for students, researchers, and faculty. Hosting more than 4,400 titles, it includes an expansive range of SAGE eBook and eReference content, including scholarly monographs, reference works, handbooks, series, professional development titles, and more.

The platform allows researchers to cross-search and seamlessly access a wide breadth of must-have SAGE book and reference content from one source.

SAGE Knowledge brings together high-quality content from across our imprints, including CQ Press and Corwin titles.