Using Comics as a Tool Within Ethnographic and Narrative Research on Physical Education

Purpose : The purpose of this article is to advocate for the use of arts-based research, particularly comic-making within narrative and ethnographic research on physical education. Method : A discussion of comics-based research is provided herein that outlines the affordances offered by the comics medium as a tool within research, particularly ethnographic and narrative research. Following this, a discussion takes place on a number of comics pages that were created during two research projects. Results : The affordances offered by comics including multimodality, sequence and simultaneity, and style and voice allow researchers to capture emplaced and embodied narratives. Furthermore, comics provide a unique way to engage with reflection and analysis. Conclusion : The ways comic making provides a vehicle for critical self-reflection and building relationships with people, places, and histories, are presented as key arguments for the adoption of comics-based research in physical education.