Member reflections with elite coaches and gymnasts: looking back to look forward

ABSTRACT

This paper is a confessional tale that focuses on challenges encountered during the process of conducting member reflections, and on the lessons learned from these. Recent discussions on enhancing the rigor of qualitative research conducted from an interpretivist stance encourage the use of member reflections, rather than the previously widely adopted member checking. Yet, practical examples of how to use this technique are scarce in the sport, exercise and health literature. As a consequence, researchers trying to achieve rigor in their work might struggle, especially if inexperienced. In this work, the first author provides a personal narrative that explores the questions and doubts encountered when engaging with member reflections during her PhD degree. Drawing on the first author’s reflective journal, a challenging situation is portrayed, and recommendations for other neophyte researchers are forwarded through four main lessons learned: (a) lessons on rigor in qualitative research, (b) lessons on tellability and layers of understanding, (c) lessons on the importance of confrontations and knowledge exchange, and (d) lessons on relational ethics.

KEYWORDS:

• Confessional tale
• qualitative research
• member reflections
• reflexivity
• ethnographic creative nonfiction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Francesca Cavallerio

Francesca Cavallerio is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University, in the School of Psychology and Sport Sciences. Her research interest focuses on using qualitative research methods to investigate youth elite athletes’ well-being in high performance environments and ways to support them through coaches and parents.

Ross Wadey

Ross Wadey is a Reader in Sport Psychology at St Mary’s University. Ross’ research involves working with external stakeholders (eg, NHS, charities, and sporting and non-sporting organisations) to develop programmes of research that meet their needs. Currently, his research is at the forefront of advancing knowledge on three complimentary themes: well-being following amputation(s) and the role of physical activity; prevention of, and rehabilitation from, sporting injuries; and post-traumatic growth following adversity.

Christopher R. D. Wagstaff

Christopher R. D. Wagstaff is a Principal Lecturer and Discipline Director in Sport Psychology at the University of Portsmouth, and is a HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist. Chris has published widely in the area of organisational psychology in sport, with projects relating to: employee emotions and attitudes, stress and well-being, and organisational culture.