Autoethnography as Writing Representation in Cultural Sport Psychology

Abstract

Cultural sport psychology (CSP) focuses on the interplay between culture and sport, which often discuss marginalised topics or sports practice in a specific population. This article suggests using autoethnography as a means of representing CSP research in the field. This article will explore what autoethnography is, why it is suitable for CSP, guidance on how to conduct autoethnography in the field of sport, exercise, health and related fields, and ethical considerations to be made when writing an autoethnography.


Keywords: culture, autoethnography, qualitative, sport and exercise psychology

References
[1] Hagan Jnr. JE, Schack T. Integrating pre-game rituals and pre-performance routines in a culture-specific context: Implications for sport psychology consultancy. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2019;17:18–31.

[2] Ryba TV, Wright HK. From mental game to cultural praxis: A cultural studies model’s implications for the future of sport psychology. Quest. 2005;57:192–212.

[3] Blodgett AT, Schinke RJ, McGannon KR, Fisher LA. Cultural sport psychology research: Conceptions, evolutions, and forecasts. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2015;8:24–43.

[4] Schinke RJ, McGannon KR. Cultural sport psychology and intersecting identities: An introduction in the special section. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2015;17:45–47.

[5] Cremades JG. Becoming a sport, exercise, and performance psychology professional: A global perspective. 1st ed. New York: Routledge; 2014. 384 p.

[6] Hackfort D, Schinke RJ, editors. The Routledge international encyclopedia of sport and exercise psychology: Volume 2: Applied and practical measures [Internet]. 1st ed. Routledge; 2020 [cited 2022 Sep 9]. Available from: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781351739467

[7] Papaioannou A, Hackfort D, editors. Routledge companion to sport and exercise psychology [Internet]. Routledge; 2014 [cited 2022 Sep 9]. Available from: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781134744541

[8] Schinke RJ, editor. Contemporary sport psychology. New York: Nova Science Publishers; 2009.

[9] Roper EA. Routledge international handbook of sport psychology. London; New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group; 2016. Schinke RJ, Smith B, editors. Cultural studies in sport and exercise psychology.

[10] De Cruz N. Cultural sport psychology and elite sport in Singapore: An exploration of identity and practice. 1st ed. New York: Routledge; 2022.

[11] Ryba TV, Schinke RJ, Tenenbaum G, editors. The cultural turn in sport psychology. Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology; 2010. 422 p.

[12] Schinke R, Hanrahan SJ, editors. Cultural sport psychology [Internet]. Human Kinetics; 2009 [cited 2022 Oct 9]. Available from: https://www.humankineticslibrary.com/encyclopedia?docid=b-9781492595366

[13] Papaioannou AG, Schinke RJ, Schack T. Sport psychology in emerging countries, special section 2: Introduction. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2019;17:1–4.

[14] Ryba TV, Schinke RJ. Methodology as a ritualised Eurocentrism: Introduction to the special issue. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2009;7:263– 274.

[15] Schinke RJ, Papaioannou AG, Schack T. Sport psychology in emerging countries: An introduction. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2016;14:103– 109.

[16] Blodgett AT, Ge Y, Schinke RJ, McGannon KR. Intersecting identities of elite female boxers: Stories of cultural difference and marginalisation in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2017;32:83–92.

[17] Schinke RJ. A four-year chronology of national team boxing in Canada. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2007;6:1–5.

[18] Schinke RJ, McGannon KR, Battochio RC, Wells GD. Acculturation in elite sport: A thematic analysis of immigrant athletes and coaches. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2013;31:1676–1686.

[19] Alfermann D, Stambulova N, Zemaityte A. Reactions to sport career termination: A cross-national comparison of German, Lithuanian, and Russian athletes. Career Transit Sport. 2004;5:61–75.

[20] Book RT, Henriksen K, Stambulova N. Oatmeal is better than no meal: The career pathways of African American male professional athletes from underserved communities in the United States. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2021;19:504–523.

[21] Stambulova NB, Ryba TV. A critical review of career research and assistance through the cultural lens: towards cultural praxis of athletes’ careers. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2014;7:1–17.

[22] Kavoura A, Ryba TV, Chroni S. Negotiating female judoka identities in Greece: A Foucauldian discourse analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2015;17:88–98.

[23] Tibbert SJ, Andersen MB, Morris T. What a difference a “Mentally Toughening” year makes: The acculturation of a rookie. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2015;17:68– 78.

[24] Rahayuni K. Body ignorance and toughness culture: Injury issues among elite Indonesian athletes. KnE Life Sciences. 2021 Mar 25

[cited 2021 Nov 23]; Available from: https://knepublishing.com/index.php/KnE-Life/article/view/8885

[25] de Cruz NP, Spray CM, Smith B. Implicit beliefs of disability and elite sport: The paraathlete experience. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 2019;11:69– 91.

[26] Rahayuni K. Psychological demands of elite Indonesian athletes. Birmingham, UK: University of Birmingham; 2020.

[27] Tshube T, Feltz DL. The relationship between dual-career and post-sport career transition among elite athletes in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Dual Career Dev Transit. 2015;21:109–114.

[28] Schinke RJ, McGannon KR, editors. The psychology of sub-culture in sport and physical activity: critical perspectives. London; New York: Routledge; 2015. 214 p.

[29] Ryba TV, Stambulova NB, Si G, Schinke RJ. ISSP position stand: Culturally competent research and practice in sport and exercise psychology. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2013;11:123–142.

[30] Schinke RJ, Fisher LA, Kamphoff C, Gould DR, Oglesby C. Certified consultants’ attempts at cultural inclusiveness: An examination of four tales through the lens of the International Society of Sport Psychology Position Stand on Cultural Competence. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2016;14:353–368.

[31] Schinke RJ, Stambulova NB, Si G, Moore Z. International society of sport psychology position stand: Athletes’ mental health, performance, and development. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2018;16:622–639.

[32] McMahon J. Routledge handbook of qualitative research in sport and exercise. First published in paperback. London and New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group; 2019. Sparkes AC, editor. Creative analytical practices. p. 302–315.

[33] Ellis C. The ethnographic I: A methodological novel about autoethnography. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press; 2004. 427 p.

[34] Ellis CS, Bochner AP. Analysing analytic autoethnography: An autopsy. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography. 2006;35:429–449.

[35] Smith B, Sparkes AC, editors. Routledge handbook of qualitative research in sport and exercise. London; New York, NY: Routledge; 2016. 495 p.

[36] Collinson JA. Qualitative research on sport and physical culture. 1st ed. Bingley: Emerald; 2012. Autoethnography: Situating personal sporting narratives in sociocultural contexts.

[37] Short NP, Grant TL, Alec. Contemporary British autoethnography. 2013.

[38] Purdy L, Potrac P, Jones R. Power, consent and resistance: An autoethnography of competitive rowing. Sport, Education and Society. 2008;13:319–336.

[39] Douglas K. Challenging interpretive privilege in elite and professional sport: One [athlete’s] story, revised, reshaped and reclaimed. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 2014;6:220–243.

[40] Mills JP. An [AUTO]ethnographic account of constructing, deconstructing, and partially reconstructing a coaching identity. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 2015;7:606–619.

[41] Collinson JA. Emotions, interaction and the injured sporting body. International Review for the Sociology of Sport. 2005;40:221–240.

[42] Scarfe SV, Marlow C. Overcoming the fear: An autoethnographic narrative of running with epilepsy. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 2015;7:688–697.

[43] Owton H, Sparkes AC. Sexual abuse and the grooming process in sport: Learning from Bella’s story. Sport, Education and Society. 2017;22:732–743.

[44] Carless D. Negotiating sexuality and masculinity in school sport: An autoethnography. Sport, Education and Society. 2012;17:607–625.

[45] Sparkes AC. Autoethnography: Accept, revise, reject? An evaluative self reflects. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 2020;12:289–302.

[46] Hacker CM, Mann ME. Talking across the divide: Reflections and recommendations for context-driven, cultural sport psychology. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action. 2017;8:76–86.

[47] Stambulova N, Alfermann D, Statler T, Côté J. ISSP Position stand: Career development and transitions of athletes. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2009;7:395–412.

[48] Schinke RJ, McGannon KR, Parham WD, Lane AM. Toward cultural praxis and cultural sensitivity: Strategies for self-reflexive sport psychology practice. Quest. 2012;64:34– 46.

[49] Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 2006;3:77–101.

[50] Sparkes A. Telling tales in sport and physical activity: A qualitative journey. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2002. 249 p.

[51] Smith B. Routledge Handbook of Physical Cultural Studies. 1st ed. Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge, 2017. Silk ML, Andrews DL, Thorpe H, editors. Narrative inquiry and autoethnography.

[52] Tolich M. A critique of current practice: Ten foundational guidelines for autoethnographers. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 2010;20:1599–1610.