ABSTRACT
Drawing upon previous experience of undertaking document-based research examining the long-term sportization of swimming this chapter provides practical examples, guidance and advice on the process of conducting developmental research from a figurational sociological perspective. It explores why figurational sociologists conduct developmental research, the methodological approach employed and considers the role of involvement and detachment in guiding the research process. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the process of establishing developmental explanations from historical data, and both the potential promise and pitfalls of the increasing digitization of historical data.
