ABSTRACT
Interest in narrative inquiry as a method of research has been instrumental
through the postmodern development in the social sciences. This interest in
narrative inquiry is attributed to the postmodern perspective of truth and
knowledge. This chapter will explore the qualitative research methods of
‘‘story’’, ‘‘narrative’’ and ‘‘voice’’ and highlight how they can provide rich
descriptions of the sport management environment and at the same time
provide an alternative research approach. The chapter suggests that this shift
in recognition of non-quantitative research paradigms is significant in that it
represents a tacit understanding that ‘‘narratives’’ provide a unique insight
into the meaning of various social phenomena for any number of social
actors. It draws on the work of Bruner (1986, 1991) who argues that narrative
is a useful way of approaching the world of sport management research. It
suggests that in combination with the process of reflection, narrative inquiry
as a qualitative research methodology has the capacity to bring to the field of
sport management research an understanding of the unique experiences of
sports managers. By sharing narratives, the researcher and sport manager can
ultimately aim to understand the complex nature of the practitioner’s world,
with a resultant improvement in practice and leadership qualities.
