ABSTRACT
We are intimately caught up in a material world, and things of the world surround us at all times. Sometimes these are engaged with, sometimes they demand attention, at other times they are taken for granted, or overlooked. Historically, materiality has been largely disregarded by social science disciplines, except archaeology and anthropology. However, recently there has been increasing interest in material things and material culture, most strongly within sociology and cultural studies (Hicks & Beaudry, 2010; Woodward, 2007). This chapter examines the value of considering materiality and using material objects in qualitative sport and exercise research. We outline the meanings and complexities of materiality in research and some ways different scholars have approached materiality. We examine illustrative sport and exercise research using materiality, and outline some research methods for involving materiality. We conclude with some observations on future directions for involving materiality in sport and exercise research.
