Description
The study of sport is characterised by its inter-disciplinarity, with researchers drawing on apparently incompatible research traditions and ethical benchmarks in the natural sciences and the social sciences, depending on their area of specialisation. In this groundbreaking study, Graham McFee argues that sound high-level research into sport requires a sound rationale for one’s methodological choices, and that such a rationale requires an understanding of the connection between the practicalities of researching sport and the philosophical assumptions which underpin them.
By examining touchstone principles in research methodology, such as the contested ‘gold standard’ of voluntary informed consent in the natural sciences and the postmodern denial of ‘truth’ in the social sciences, McFee demonstrates that epistemology and ethics are inextricably linked. Drawing on a wide range of examples, from the laboratory to the sports field, McFee explores the concepts of ‘knowledge’ and ‘truth’ in sports research and makes a powerful case for a philosophical deepening of our approach to method and methodology in sport. This book is important reading for all advanced students and researchers working in sport, exercise and related disciplines.
Table of Contents
Preface Part 1: Overview Chapter 1. A Vision of the Epistemology and Ethics of Qualitative Research Into Sport Part 2: The Nature of Qualitative Research Chapter 2. Research Must Answer its Question: Research as Erotetic Chapter 3. The Idea of the ‘Qualitative’ is not so Helpful Part 3: The Place of Truth Chapter 4. Research Must Aim at Truth Chapter 5. Scientism is a Bad Model of Truth (and Natural Science) Chapter 6. Postmodernism and Truth-Denial as a Kind of Scientism Chapter 7. Truth-Denial is Not Just a Style of Writing Part 4: Ethics for Research Chapter 8. Voluntary Informed Consent is Not a Gold Standard Chapter 9. Covert Research into Sport can be Ethical Chapter 10. The Researcher is Not the Research Subject Part 5: Conclusion (and Appendix) Chapter 11. In Summary. Appendix: Considerations of Exceptionlessness in Philosophy. Bibliography
