‘Like, what even is a podcast?’ Approaching sport-for-development youth participatory action research through digital methodologies

Abstract

This paper reports findings from a participatory-based study with racialised newcomer youth in Toronto that utilised digital methodologies – specifically the act of podcasting – to explore connections between sport and social development. The paper examines the complex, and sometimes contradictory, relationships between participatory research and digital technologies when examining the social meanings of sport and physical activity for youth. The main argument is that despite important challenges and limitations, employing digital technologies as a form of participatory research can provide specific opportunities to (co)produce knowledge and experiences about sport and social development that may not be available or achievable within a traditional research framework. These findings are used to discuss future issues and questions around the use of participatory research approaches in the field of sport for development.