Designed especially for students in sport and physical activity, this book provides a detailed guide to planning, undertaking, and writing up qualitative research. It′s a coherent and accessible guide through the research process, using numerous examples to bring research alive.

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