Sport Sciences and the Promise of Phenomenology: Philosophy, Method, and Insight

Abstract

This paper examines the ways in which phenomenology might make a more significant contribution to knowledge and undentanding within the broad field or spon-related research. The discussion is organized into Four sections. First, an overview of the philosophical roots of phenomenology and its main concepts provides a contextual background. This highlights both the centrality of the key contributions of Husserl and Heidegger and their essential differences. Second, it is argued that recognition of such differences raise important methodological issues that will influence research intentions and outcomes. Third. from an analysis of existing phenomenological research in the sport sciences, it is concluded that there are few examples that fully merit the phenomenological descriptor. Rather, it is argued that where the terms qualitative and phenomenological are used interchangeably, the potential of phenomenology is not realized. In conclusion, the implications of striving to achieve the central phenomenological goals of providing insight and tools for reflection (Bain, 1995) are considered.