Abstract - Use of narrative interview based on sociology of physical culture (Taking into consideration eastern martial arts)
In sociology the biographical method was used for the first time in „Chicago school”. Empiricism close to anthropology and ethnography is characteristic of his school. Crowning of the property was the classical study „Polish peasant in Europe and in America” by Znaniecki and Thomas. Later, the interest in biographical method is indicated by Berger, Luckaman, Thompson, Niethammer, Harre, Secord, Kohli, Bertaux, Shaw, Garfinkel, Cicourel, Denzin, Glaser, A. Strauss, Schutz and others. Biographical method accepts many forms and terminology: biography, autobiography, life stories, personal documents, interviews-especially narrative interview etc. This method concentrates on individual’s life, which is taken into account as a part of social reality but also as a sign ofrelations between the individual biographies and the society and processes as well.
Followers of different theoretical orientations are interested in biographical method, but the object of researches is varied. We have to distinguish “biography as a subject” – we ask about typical events in individual’s and group’s life, the structure. “Biography as a measure” – here the biographical information could answer all the questions.
Narrative interview is a technique of biographical methods. The essence of this interview is to receive information about life. It is a spontaneous narration, non- disrupted by intervention of researcher. The main aim is to present their life or just the part of their life.
For sociology of physical culture the most important objects of research are individuals who do professional athletics and eastern martial arts. Taking into account “biography as
a subject”, sport’s career is going to be the most interesting for the researcher but also physical activity, importance attributed to physical activity and individual events in their life connected with sport’s or master’s careershould be included.
Dealing with “biography as a measure” researchers can ask and speak about problems. The position of physical activity in individual’s life and the attitude to this life sphere, motivation to physical activity and what kind of activity attitudes to their life should be defined.