Advancing narrative research in sport psychology: Reflections on different kinds of stories

Although narrative inquiry research was less common in the sport sciences in the early 2000s, the study of stories contextualised in narratives is now embraced in sport psychology research. In this commentary, we build on recent discussions and review papers by reflecting on the current position of narrative inquiry research in the sport sciences and sport psychology. Our precise aim was to explore a growing body of narrative research in sport psychology focusing on public stories (i.e. autobiographies, digital media) to further advocate for their value to study identities and sporting lives. To contextualise our commentary, we first outline several narrative inquiry assumptions (e.g. distinctions between a story and narrative, onto-epistemology, story analyst vs. storyteller, big and small story approaches). Next, we provide examples of research on ‘different kinds of stories’ circulated in public spaces for witness and wider audience consumption to explore their value in narrative inquiry research in sport psychology. We then reflect on future research directions and considerations to advance critically informed and principled research on autobiography and digital media as storied resources in narrative inquiry.