The café talk: a discussion of the process of developing a creative non-fiction
Krystn Orr, Brett Smith, Kelly P. Arbour‐Nicitopoulos, F. Virginia Wright
Abstract
Humans are story-telling creatures, and our qualitative research needs to reflect this. In this paper we openly discuss our struggles, progress, and experiences with thematic narrative analysis and creative non-fictions from an interdisciplinary team’s perspective. This messy text is aimed at researchers new to and experienced with creative non-fictions to promote critical thinking around the challenges that arise from using such a methodology. It is our goal to be transparent in our processes, emotions, and decision-making throughout the process by providing our individual reflections on each stage of the research process so that other researchers can learn from and critically discuss the future of these methodologies. We use an example of a creative non-fiction that (re)presents data from parents of youth involved in an inclusive physical literacy program. We conclude with a discussion of where we see these methodologies developing in the fields of sport and exercise psychology as to stimulate dialogue amongst our colleagues.