Engaging young people with disabilities in research about their experiences of physical education and sport: A scoping review of methodologies and methods

Abstract

Young people with disabilities (PWD) have increasingly become part of complex and important conversations surrounding their experiences and engagement in physical education (PE) and sport. Despite more young voices being heard, scant attention has been given to why we are listening, who we are listening to, and how we are listening. In this scoping review, we focus on the methodologies and methods used when researching the perspectives young PWD hold of PE and sport. Through searching Google Scholar, PE and sport journals, and citations and references of relevant research studies, we retrieved 52 empirical publications and information was extracted on their aims, country of origin, context and participants, research design, data sources, analytical, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, and key findings and recommendations. By reviewing methodologies and methods, we were able to identify that: authors often justified their work as ‘filling a gap’; varied, and often minimal, participant information was provided; and finally, data generation methods were at times exclusionary and/or not sensitive to disability research contexts. Moving forward, we first recommend that careful consideration is given to why research is being done beyond contributing knowledge to the field. Second, detailed information must be provided about participants to have a clearer picture about who has and has not been included in research so that findings can be contextualised. Finally, greater attention must be given to alternative and inclusive data generation methods to engage more diverse young people, specifically those with high support needs, in research about PE and youth sport.