Epistemological perspectives among women who participate in physical activity

Abstract

The purpose of this collaborative research project, consisting of five interrelated studies, was to explore the epistemological development of women engaged in various forms of physical activity. Forty-seven women who participated in one of five physical activity contexts (intercollegiate field hockey, individual non-competitive activities, lesbian softball, bodybuilding, and expedition mountain climbing) interpreted their experiences in two 90 minute, semi-structured interview session. In the first session, the authors employed the same “core” interview protocol so we could compare epistemological perspectives in daily life and activity domains across the five sub-samples; in the second session, we used five different protocols tailored to specific physical activity contexts. We discussed the co-participants' ways of knowing in light of selected themes emphasizing relations between self and other: processes of cooperation and competition, and issues of power and authority. Finally, suggestions for practical applications and new research directions are briefly highlighted.