25 years of qualitative research in sport and exercise Psychology: How did it Go? and what now?

Abstract

Qualitative research in sport and exercise psychology has grown over the last 25 years. The number of papers published in journals like Psychology of Sport and Exercise has increased. There has also been growth in terms of the variety and sophistication of work published. Such growth suggests qualitative research is in a good place. It is and it isn't. This paper aims to advance qualitative research and be a resource to guide future practice. It first celebrates qualitative research in sport and exercise psychology by offering examples of the positive qualities of work being done. The paper then highlights some problems by attending to the tokenistic engagement with epistemology and ontology plus some associated fallacies. Some thoughts about how qualitative research in sport and exercise psychology might develop are next offered. To help support the ongoing development of qualitative research we attend to interviewing, story completion, analysis, computer-assisted software, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital methods. The paper also provides a note on physical activity guidelines, qualitative research, and policy-making. It closes by reaffirming the need to approach qualitative research as a slow craft that involves people (not AI) making tough, well-thought-out ethical, theoretical, and methodological decisions.

Keywords: Analysis; Artificial intelligence; Data collection; Digital methods; Qualitative research.