Why qualitative methods? A contrasting view from public policy, management and industry

This chapter is intended to shape our understanding of qualitative research careers across the established assumptions, boundaries and inherent fields of academia, industry and policy-making. Currently, there is minimal conversation around the growing field of qualitative sport researchers doing methodologies, shaping policy and highlighting the impact of various practices. The chapter uses reflections on careers from three authors who work in higher education, are engaging in a PhD from a base within HE and are employed as government department sport policy research commissioners. The chapter highlights a ‘call to arms’ to acknowledge, promote and innovate qualitative methods within policy-making and practice in sport studies. The chapter ends with three researcher vignettes where the positions of doing from a UG, a PhD–government researcher and a government commissioner of qualitative research are explored. This leads to you, as a reader, having access to further reading and seminar questions to shape your own reflection on your career and the position and role of qualitative research.