Psychophenomenology and the explicitation interview for accessing subjective lived experience in sport coaching

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this position paper is to promote the interest, usefulness and specificity of a coherent system that is based on psychophenomenology as a theoretical framework [Vermersch, P. (2012). Explicitation et phénoménologie. Paris: PUF], and the explicitation interview [Vermersch, P. (2009). Describing the practice of introspection. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 16(10–12), 20–57] as an appropriate and original method for studying the subjective lived experience of participants in sport situations. This original approach is associated with an epistemological posture which accords significant importance to the first-person point of view (i.e. what is appearing to a person about his own subjective lived experience in a past situation). After presenting some limitations in other phenomenological approaches and interview methods, we highlight the specificity of the theoretical background and the method of explicitation interview, for describing in detail the actions and understanding the lived experience of a person in a past and singular situation. To demonstrate the potential of this approach, we provide two specific examples of explicitation interview data from an in-match player decision-making situation and an in-game half-time speech of a coach. In concluding, we contend that psychophenomenology and the explicitation interview present new perspectives and opportunities for coach education, by developing the analysis of the subjective lived experience. This may have important implications for sport-related research and the development of coaching practice and formal coach education, through closer links to real life experiences.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychophenomenology
• phenomenology
• explicitation interview
• subjective lived experience
• sport coaching
• decision-making

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Alain Mouchet http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1397-8767

Notes

1 Researchers’ attempts to arrive at the eidos of a phenomenon, its essential forms or characteristics.

2 Bracketing involves setting aside one’s natural attitude and a priori knowledge and assumptions in order to remain fully present to phenomena as they present themselves to consciousness.

3 This study used a phenomenographic framework and elicitation interview.

4 Was the interviewee in evocation of a singular situation (topic and spatio-temporal situation)? We can find some graduation in this answer.

5 Was the interviewee in contact with the subjective lived experience in the past situation, with a vivid evocation, as he relived it.

6 Was it possible to relive the past experience with the richness of sensorial modalities: visual, auditive, corporal filling, emotions … .