Chapter 1 Historical Methods and Traces of the Past: Embracing the Complexities and Engaging in Reflexivity

Abstract

Purpose – This chapter explores various approaches to historical methods as they relate to sport and physical culture research.

Design/methodology/approach – The chapter discusses various paradigmatic approaches to historical methods (reconstructionist, constructionist and deconstructionist) and takes up current debates related to archives, newspapers, photographs and oral history as they relate to the method. Drawing on these discussions, I outline various approaches to designing a sport and physical culture project using historical methods, focusing on my work on women's industrial sport in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Findings – I discuss how data evolved from the method and how I made choices about the inclusion and exclusion of materials. The chapter concludes that historical methods are tedious, complex and messy but also exciting and insightful ways to do research. I also conclude by encouraging the researcher to be reflexive and aware of one's ‘positionality’ as a researcher and embrace the historical process.

Originality/value – The chapter is original work. It is not so much a prescriptive ‘how-to’ guide for historical research, but it works to take up current debates in historical methods. It also endeavours to engage students and scholars alike as they consider their research projects and the potential value of historical methods.

Citation

Adams, C. (2012), "Chapter 1 Historical Methods and Traces of the Past: Embracing the Complexities and Engaging in Reflexivity", Young, K. and Atkinson, M. (Ed.) Qualitative Research on Sport and Physical Culture (Research in the Sociology of Sport, Vol. 6), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1476-2854(2012)0000006004