A social constructionist exploration of the reasons why individuals participate in long distance running.

Charlson, Paul (2018) A social constructionist exploration of the reasons why individuals participate in long distance running. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Large amounts of previous research has investigated the motivations into long distance running by using quantitative methods, often incorporating the Motivation of Marathoners Scale (MOMS). Consequently, most of the past research has failed to obtain in depth qualitative data, whereas this research incorporated a social constructionist perspective to investigate the reasons behind participation in long distance running using a qualitative method. Six face to face semi-structured interviews were conducted and then analysed by using thematic analysis in accordance with (Braun and Clarke, 2006). The results of the thematic analysis found 4 themes that explained how constructing a social identity of a long-distance runner could be used to explain the reasons behind participation in long distance running. The four themes found were: health related factors; power; social support and coping; and negative addiction. The overall findings of this research indicated that the influences of constructing a social identity as a long distance runner can explain where the reasons to continue to participate in long distance running originates from.