The survey narrative (2/2) Behind the scenes in sports social science fieldwork

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Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. In 2004, I myself was a third-year PhD student. I’ve been giving fitness and dance classes at the University physical and sports activities service (SUAPS) at Valenciennes University for six years. I’ve also been teaching at the Faculty of Sports Sciences and Professions (FSMS) for three years (one year as a temporary lecturer, two years as an Temporarily attached to education and research (ATER)).

2. In my field notes, I found the hastily scribbled expression “not very well.”

3. Green salad, tomatoes and mozzarella for starters, organic bread and different kinds of cheese from the region; strawberry salad with mint leaves; all served with a Diet Coke.

4. In the way I subsequently negotiated ‘my’ fields, I was very careful never again to play on the register of seduction (but had I really done so?). In this respect I am at odds with the remarks made by Ghiglione and Matalon (1977/1998). While I fully recognize the weight of the researcher’s gender in the conditions under which the survey is possible and in the social relationship constituted by the interview, putting oneself in a situation of sexual subordination toward future respondents by playing the game of a sexualized presentation of oneself is the best way of experiencing the last situation described.

5. I did develop some of the ‘tricks’ of the trade, but the adverbs “spontaneously,” “unconsciously,” etc., show how much of this was experimentation rather than reflection.

6. Among many others, I would like to mention the study day entitled “Transmitting, Experimenting, Testing Fieldwork,” which was held on 19 June 2020 at the University of Paris 8.

7. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the editorial board of the journal Society and Leisure, and its Editor in Chief Denis Auger, for agreeing to publish not one, but two thematic issues devoted to accounts of sport social science research. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the 35 experts who agreed to evaluate the article proposals received, under time constraints and in double-blind (sometimes triple-blind) conditions: Bernard Andrieu, Daniel Bizeul, Christophe Bonnet, Eric Boutroy, Sabine Chavinier, Olivier Chovaux, Cécile Collinet, Jean Corneloup, Camille Couvry, Matthieu Delalandre, Sophie Divay, Carine Erard, Mélie Fraysse, Julien Fuchs, Marie-Carmen Garcia, Marina Honta, Jeanne-Maud Jarthon, Isabelle Joing, Hugo Juskowiak, Olivier Le Noé, Michel Koebel, Antoine Marsac, Yamina Méziani, Sarah Mischler, Cécile Ottogali, Bruno Papin, Clémence Perrin-Malterre, Géraldine Rix-Lièvre, Laura Schuft, Magali Sizorn, Arnaud Sebileau, Hassen Slimani, Bastien Soulé, Christian Vivier, and Olivier Vors.

8. In 2004, I myself was a third-year PhD student. I’ve been giving fitness and dance been giving fitness and dance classes at the sports department of Valenciennes University. I’ve I’ve also been teaching at the Faculty of Sports Science and Crafts for three years (one year as a temporary teaching and research assistant).

9. J’ai d’ailleurs retrouvé dans mes notes de terrain, l’expression griffonnée à la hâte « pas très bien ».

10. Salade verte, tomates et mozzarella en entrée, pain bio et différentes sortes de fromage de la région; salade de fraises aux feuilles de menthe; le tout accompagné de Coca Light.

11. Dans ma manière de négocier par la suite « mes » terrains, j’ai fait très attention à ne plus jamais (mais l’avais-je vraiment fait?) jouer sur le registre de la séduction. Je m’inscris à ce sujet en porte-à-faux avec les remarques de Ghiglione et Matalon (1977/1998). Si je reconnais totalement le poids du sexe de la chercheuse dans les conditions de possibilité de l’enquête et dans la relation sociale que constitue l’entretien, se poser en situation de subordination sexuelle à l’égard de futurs enquêtés en jouant le jeu d’une présentation sexualisée de soi est le meilleur moyen de vivre la dernière situation décrite.

12. J’ai bien développé quelques « ficelles » du métier, mais les adverbes « spontanément », « inconsciemment », etc., montrent combien cela relevait davantage de l’expérimentation que de la réflexion.

13. Parmi de nombreuses autres, je peux citer ici la journée d’étude intitulée « Transmettre, expérimenter, éprouver l’enquête de terrain », qui s’est tenue le 19 juin 2020, à l’Université de Paris 8.

14. J’en profite pour remercier ici le comité de rédaction de la revue Loisir et Société, et son directeur scientifique Denis Auger, pour avoir accepté de publier non pas un, mais deux numéros thématiques consacrés aux récits d’enquête en sciences sociales du sport. Je remercie tout aussi sincèrement les 35 experts qui ont accepté d’évaluer, sur un temps contraint et en double aveugle (parfois triple), les propositions d’article reçues : Bernard Andrieu, Daniel Bizeul, Christophe Bonnet, Eric Boutroy, Sabine Chavinier, Olivier Chovaux, Cécile Collinet, Jean Corneloup, Camille Couvry, Matthieu Delalandre, Sophie Divay, Carine Erard, Mélie Fraysse, Julien Fuchs, Marie-Carmen Garcia, Marina Honta, Jeanne-Maud Jarthon, Isabelle Joing, Hugo Juskowiak, Olivier Le Noé, Michel Koebel, Antoine Marsac, Yamina Méziani, Sarah Mischler, Cécile Ottogali, Bruno Papin, Clémence Perrin-Malterre, Géraldine Rix-Lièvre, Laura Schuft, Magali Sizorn, Arnaud Sebileau, Hassen Slimani, Bastien Soulé, Christian Vivier et Olivier Vors.