Within sport and exercise contexts, the use of research informed by the principles of participatory and community-based approaches has grown in popularity. In what has been called a “participatory turn,” researchers are increasingly looking for ways to invoke approaches that challenge the hegemony of knowledge production and involve various stakeholders and knowledge users in the research process. Yet, these processes are often complex and fraught with methodological, relational, and ethical tensions, of which may undermine the transformative potential of participatory research. In this edited volume, we bring together chapters from a variety of experts to critically discuss the practicalities of “doing” participatory research in sport and exercise. The focus on “how to” conduct this kind of research is novel and represents an important resource for students and researchers interested in diverse approaches to knowledge production.
The volume is organized around elements of the participatory research process. Sections include: (1) methodology and research design, (2) data collection, (3) data analysis, and (4) knowledge mobilization and translation. Each chapter includes a review of key developments and scholarly contributions, a guide to how the approach can be employed, an example from the author’s own work, as well as critical reflections on the approach including the future developments and potential impacts on both scholarly work and public discourse related to sport and exercise. The volume will be a key resource for graduate students and researchers in fields of sport studies, sociology of sport, sport and exercise psychology, and sport management and policy. The volume will be a timely and useful resource for a variety of graduate level methodology courses in these disciplines.
Keywords: Participatory research, co-production, sport, exercise, research methodology
Instructions
Interested authors are asked to submit a proposal including a 200 word description, the names, affiliation, and contact information for authors, as well as a clear indication of which section of the collection the chapter is intended for. Additionally, authors are encouraged to submit links or references to outputs from their work which has employed the approach/topic they are proposing to write about (if applicable).
Submissions can be made to: krich@brocku.ca.
Chapter Outlines
In order to facilitate the writing process and enhance the flow of the edited collection, we ask that authors and authorship teams use the following structure for their chapters. While there is some flexibility in the word count for each section, we ask that authors follow the guidelines below as strictly as possible. Authors wishing to deviate from the following guidelines, should consult with the editors in advance.
Chapter length: up to 6,500 words (including references)
Guidelines
Introduction and key terms – 500 words
What will the chapter address? What variations on the language exist in the literature?
Development, key thinkers, and current uses and applications – 1000 words
How was the approach developed? Who were early users/advocates? How is it currently being used in sport/exercise? What are key resources for the approach in the related literature?
“Step by step” guide, variations, and key consideration – 2000 words
How is the approach conducted? What are the steps or activities involved? What are the different ways that this can be done? What are the important ideas or principals that should be kept in mind?
Examples from your own work – 1000 words
Provide an example from your own work. Situate it within the explanation above. What did you do? What did you not do? What was successful? What was challenging?
Challenges/opportunities – 1000 words
What are some of the key challenges associated with the method? What kind of challenges are commonly experienced? What are your critical reflections on the approach and its application? What are some of the insights that the method may provide moving forward? How might the method change or develop in the future? What sort of impacts might this approach generate (within and outside of research)?
References – 500-1000 words
Table of Contents and Potential Topics
The following are a list of potential topics or approaches that may be involved in participatory research processes. We are interested in receiving abstracts including (but not limited to) the items listed here.
Section 1: Methodology and Research Design
-
- Ethics
- Finding research partners
- Working with advisory boards
- Negotiating and building research partnerships
- Project management
- Funding and finances
- Managing expectations
- Formalizing research agreements
- Co-designing questions and objectives
- Reciprocal (community and researcher) training
- Reflexivity and reflexive practices
- Critical pedagogies
Sections 2: Participatory Data Collection
-
- Photovoice
- Arts-based approaches
- Digital methods (digital storytelling, podcasting etc)
- Go-along interviews
- Participatory mapping
- Quantitative methods
- Peer interviews/focus groups
- Body mapping
- Narrative inquiry/Storytelling
Section 3: Participatory Data Analysis
-
- Facilitating participatory analysis
- Creative analytic practice
- Participatory thematic analysis
- Data analysis technology and software
- Quantitative analysis
- Narrative analysis
Section 4: Knowledge Mobilization and Translation
-
- Culture and language
- Community forums
- Producing creative outputs
- Podcasting
- Managing conflict and negative findings
- Navigating co-authorship
Proposed Timeline
The following is our proposed timeline for the project. Please note that we will be firm on this timeline. Any deviations to the submissions, should be requested to the editors in advance. Requests for extensive deviations from the following timeline will not be feasible.
-
-
- Call for abstracts: April 15, 2022
- Abstract Submission: June 1, 2022
- Responses: July 1, 2022
- Second call/invites: September 1, 2022
- Chapter Submissions: February 1, 2023
- Chapter Feedback: April 1, 2023
- Second Submissions: June 1, 2023
- Second Revisions (if necessary): July 1, 2023
- Final chapter submissions: August 1, 2023
-
We are happy to field any questions you may have about the proposal and submission process. We are interested in receiving submissions from scholars from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds and international affiliations. Please do not hesitate to contact us through krich@brocku.ca.
