Chapter 8 Embodied Research Methodologies and Seeking the Senses in Sport and Physical Culture: A Fleshing out of Problems and Possibilities

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this chapter is to differentiate between a sociology of the body and an embodied sociology, prior to considering what this might mean in methodological terms for those wishing to conduct research into the senses and the sensorium in sport and physical culture.

Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken involves reviewing the work of those who have already engaged with the senses in sport and physical culture in order to highlight an important methodological challenge. This revolves around how researchers might seek to gain access to the senses of others and explore the sensorium in action. To illustrate how this challenge can be addressed, a number of studies that have utilised visual technologies in combination with interviews are examined and the potential this approach has in seeking the senses is considered.

Findings – The findings confirm the interview as a multi-sensory event and the potential of visual technologies to provide access to the range of senses involved in sport and physical culture activities.

Research limitations/implications – The limitations of traditional forms of inquiry and representational genres for both seeking the senses and communicating these to a range of different audiences are highlighted and alternatives are suggested.

Originality/value – The chapter's originality lies in its portrayal of unacknowledged potentialities for seeking the senses using standard methodologies, and how these might be developed further, in creative combination with more novel approaches, as part of a future shift towards more sensuous forms of scholarship in sport and physical culture.

Citation

Sparkes, A.C. and Smith, B. (2012), "Chapter 8 Embodied Research Methodologies and Seeking the Senses in Sport and Physical Culture: A Fleshing out of Problems and Possibilities", Young, K. and Atkinson, M. (Ed.) Qualitative Research on Sport and Physical Culture (Research in the Sociology of Sport, Vol. 6), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 167-190. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1476-2854(2012)0000006011