EXISTENTIAL PHENOMENOLOGY - EMPHASIZING THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ATHLETEIN SPORT PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH

Qualitative research in sport psychology is slowly becoming more of an accepted form of inquiry, and most of this research is conducted usin g various interview methods. In this paper, information is provided on a paradigm that has been given little consideration in sport psycholo gy literature. This paradigm is termed existential phenomenology, and within this paradigm a chief mode of inquiry is the phenomenological i nterview. With its open-ended format and similarities to the athlete-s port psychology consultant interaction in a performance enhancement in tervention, it is a method that appears to offer valuable information about the participant's experience that might otherwise go unnoticied. The basic views of existential phenomenology, including its philosoph ical foundations as well as instructions for conducting a phenomenolog ical interview study, are provided. Specific discussion of the potenti al significance of this type of research for the field of sport psycho logy is offered.