The meaning and value of poetic thinking in qualitative sport research

To do their job, qualitative sport researchers need to think. There are multiple modes of thinking and each one offers unique possibilities. In this article, we put the spotlight on poetic thinking, an overlooked yet important thinking mode for qualitative sport research. The article explains what poetic thinking is or can be, why think poetically, and how to create the conditions for poetic thoughts to emerge. In addition, it discusses how poetic thinking might look like in action, and posits three provocations: How does poetic thinking relate to other modes of thinking? Is it ethical to think poetically? Can poetic thinking contribute to social justice? Throughout the article, it's highlighted that poetic thinking doesn't serve the utilitarian logic of the research market and can't be articulated or contained within the linguistic systems that attempt to represent it. It's also emphasised that poetic thinkers adopt a receptive rather than active mode of relating to the world. Instead of reaching after meaning and interpretation, they patiently wait for something to happen and, when it does, they dwell in a state of openness to uncertainty, or negative reflection. Poetic thinking has the capacity to spawn intervals of 'blue skies research' that save us from becoming functionaries of the method and keep us focused on intellectual craftpersonship. It's hoped the article makes room for more poetic qualitative sport research without minimising other thinking modes as a result.