DSES at the 9th International Conference on Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSE2024)

The Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Durham is a hub for qualitative research expertise, with practicing a range of methodological approaches and techniques from narrative inquiry and arts-based research to digital methods. It is therefore no surprise that the biennial International Conference on Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSE) is popular among department staff! The department also has a long-standing connection to the conference and the QRSE Society who host the event. DSES staff Professor Brett Smith and Dr Toni Williams are co-founders of the society and in 2022 the department hosted the conference in Durham, co-convened by Professor Cassie Phoenix and Dr Toni Williams. 

This year the conference was hosted by the Centre for Qualitative Research and the Department of Health at the University of Bath- which meant a summer road trip to the Southwest for the 8 DSES staff and postgraduate researchers in attendance!

The conference took place over four days in late July (some of the sunniest we have seen this summer!) with a jam packed academic and social calendar. Department staff contributed across a range of formats, sharing their research and expertise in the form of pre-conference workshops, standalone presentations, and symposiums. Contributors from DSES also comprised the full spectrum of career stages with PhD students, post-doctoral, early/mid-career staff, and Professors.

Research spanned longstanding and traditional topics in sport and exercise sciences, as well as new and emerging ideas and ways of working. Professor Cassie Phoenix and Dr Emily Tupper delivered a symposium, inviting attendees to explore how movement interacts with creativity and care with The Moving Bodies Lab (read Emily’s blog on the symposium here!). PhD student, Zhuotong Wu, shared her emerging research on Chinese women’s initiation into football fandom under Confucianism. Dr Hester Hockin-Boyers contributed to a symposium on digital methods where speakers discussed how researchers can navigate digital platforms to understand and make visible women’s lives and experiences of health, exercise and sport.

"It was fantastic to attend QRSE 2024. In 2023, I travelled to Liverpool with 7 colleagues to attend the Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network conference. A year later, it was Bath for QRSE with 8 colleagues in attendance. For me these particular events have been real highlights. Not only because they offered the opportunity to spend time with colleagues from DSES. But there was also a discussion about the Department as a "powerhouse" for qualitative research in sport and exercise sciences and I believe showcasing our high-quality research in this way helps to drive this reputation.”

Professor Stacey Pope, Durham University.

After a full day of enriching dialogue about all things qualitative research, the conference headed into town for a meal at The Architect. The social calendar is often the highlight of any conference programme and QRSE 2024 did not disappoint! The fantastic weather in Bath over the four days of the conference allowed for picnic lunches on the green outside the venue, a stunning skyline walk into town, and drinks by the campus lake.

The conference also marked a period of transition for QRSE as a society. While members were elected to new positions on the Executive Board others stepped down, having served the society and its members for 3+ years. The society expressed their heartfelt thanks to Professor Brett Smith, one of QRSE’s founders, who finished his tenure as QRSE President after 4 years in the role. DSES own Dr Toni Williams was elected as the society’s new President- a hugely prestigious position that will only strengthen the society and the department’s commitment to excellence in qualitative research.

“It’s been an honour to be the 1st President of the International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSE). My hope for QRSE during my tenure was to establish a society that is a welcoming and vibrant home for the growing community of qualitative scholars. One unexpected joy of leading the society was bringing together many other societies across the globe during the Covid pandemic to support each other and discuss possible collaborations. Leading this was a humbling, refreshing, and great learning experience. We – QRSE- are now proud to be a founding member of the new Federation of International Societies of Sport, Kinesiology and Physical Activity (FISSKPA). Moving forward I believe we are extremely lucky we have Dr Toni Williams and a new Executive Board. Their leadership will turn QRSE into a truly global society and enhance opportunities for members. We have an exciting and bright future under their leadership. I look forward to QRSE becoming an even broader family that advances what we love – qualitative research.”

Past President Professor Brett Smith, Durham University.

Professor Martin Roderick was also announced as the new Co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health (QRSEH) alongside Professor Kerry McGannon, Professor of Psychology at Laurentian University in Canada. The journal aims to support and promote advancement and debate of qualitative research within the sociology of sport, sport and exercise psychology, sports coaching, and sports and exercise medicine.

The conference closed with one final announcement from the society- the location of QRSE 2026- which will be hosted by the University of Toronto. DSES staff very much look forward to joining friends and colleagues for a transatlantic road trip in 2026!

“Working together we can take a collaborative approach to fostering the future growth of the society and the journal. These prestigious leadership positions will also strengthen the international reputation of the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences (DSES) at Durham University as global leaders in qualitative research in the social sciences.”

Dr Toni William, Durham University.