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Rethinking validity in qualitative sport and exercise psychology research: a realist perspective
journal contribution
posted on 2019-11-11, 14:24 authored by Noora J Ronkainen, Gareth WiltshireGareth WiltshireOver the last two decades, the relativist approach has significantly shaped debates about the quality and rigour of qualitative research in sport and exercise psychology (SEP). In the absence of any published critiques of relativism in SEP, this paper problematises its central claims with a focus on the most recent contribution offered by Smith and McGannon (2018. Developing rigor in qualitative research: problems and opportunities within sport and exercise psychology. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 11, 101–121). Despite making valuable contributions to the advancement and acceptance of qualitative research, we argue that the relativist approach encounters numerous problems when attempting to reject the “anything goes” problem due to its fundamental ontological commitment to internal, multiple, mind-dependent realities. This paper then makes a constructive contribution to the field by offering an alternative position grounded in a realist understanding of validity. We first suggest that principles such as ontological plausibility, empirical adequacy and practical utility can re-orient both critical thinking and the use of practical techniques which can reduce threats to validity. Second, we suggest that Maxwell’s (1992. Understanding and validity in qualitative research. Harvard Educational Review, 62, 279–301) descriptive, interpretive and theoretical validity could be welcome concepts for qualitative researchers in SEP. The significance of this realist approach for researchers, reviewers and editors is discussed.
Funding
Alfred Kordelin foundation: [grant number 15143]
European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation -programme: [grant number 792172]
History
School
- Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Published in
International Journal of Sport and Exercise PsychologyVolume
19Issue
1Pages
13-28Publisher
Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis GroupVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Rights holder
© International Society of Sport PsychologyPublisher statement
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology on 5 July 2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/1612197X.2019.1637363.Acceptance date
2019-05-28Publication date
2019-07-05Copyright date
2019ISSN
1612-197XeISSN
1557-251XPublisher version
Language
- en
Depositor
Gareth Wiltshire. Deposit date: 11 November 2019Usage metrics
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