Soundscape elicitation and visually impaired cricket: Using auditory methodology in sport and physical activity research

This article examines the development of soundscape elicitation, an innovative method for eliciting rich and captivating accounts of sport and physical activity. This method uses composed auditory 'tracks' of the players' participation and then introduces these recordings during semi-structured interviews to prompt sensorial discussions. The creation of this approach was underpinned by two major considerations: firstly, how to create an accessible and inclusive approach that prioritises the visually impaired participants’ frequently marginalised voices and, secondly, how best to elicit their multi-sensory experiences of such a fleeting and fast-paced activity such as visually impaired cricket. Over the course of this article, the methodological practicalities and innovations required when conducting research into the sensory experiences of visually impaired cricket players are established. Given the paucity of research in this area, there is a lack of methodological precedent thus the successes and limitations of this method are analysed with reference to ethnographic field-notes and interview extracts.