Innovative Research Practices
Underpinning our work in all of our areas of research is a commitment to exploring and innovating avant-garde methodological practices. In so doing, we question the explanatory / theoretical frameworks currently deployed within the various disciplines that inform physical cultural forms. This inevitably involves questions surrounding ontology, epistemology, political intent, method, interpretation, expression, and impact. At present, what currently holds the centre in physical cultural research is a somewhat narrow definition of the field, that, in many ways, blinkers scholars and practitioners in their ability and potential to provide a critical examination of the operations and machinations of sport-related industries and institutions. Through thoughtful reflexivity, we address a range of approaches to researching physical culture in an effort to, aid the power of those in the academy to apply research so that it impacts, and is meaningful to, the various communities that physical cultural research potential to touch. This, we believe, will expand our intellectual horizons and offer the additional theoretical and practical insights that our rapidly developing field requires. Specific work in this area centres for example on the physical pedagogic bricolage, poesis, visual methodologies, the development of sacred-moral epistemologies, autophenomenography as an approach to studying sporting embodiment, the role of community based / participatory and collaborative research, and, virtual methodologies (eg social media). Furthermore, we undertake a range of creative approaches to enhance public engagement such as; citizen journalism, exhibitions, artistic methodologies, seminars, and, web-based projects.
