ABSTRACT
In this chapter we introduce and discuss the significance of social ‘theory’ and ‘reflexivity’ with respect to their importance in conducting and producing meaningful qualitative research that has a clear purpose (see Markula and Silk, 2011). Given the tenets of physical cultural studies (PCS) and its concerns with social injustices and inequitable sets of relations of power, we focus predominantly on theories associated with what Sparkes and Smith (2014) call critical or openly ideological research. Accordingly, we focus on theories and associated research practices that eschew the notion of an objective or disinterested social scientist and with an underpinning purpose ‘orientated toward social and individual transformation’ (ibid.: 49–50). In this manner, we concur with Bourdieu’s call against the fetishism of theory, within which some researchers seem more inclined to dwell on theoretical concepts ‘instead of making them work … [and] putting them into action’ (cited in Brandao, 2010: 231). In paraphrasing Marx we accordingly desire to make social theory and reflexive processes work, not just to know and represent the world but as tools to potentially change it.
