We’re thrilled to announce the publication of a groundbreaking new paper by Johannes Carl, Johannes Jaunig, Leonie Schnith, Jochen Mayer, Justen O’Connor, and Lisa Young titled “Mapping the ‘Lifelong Journey’ of Physical Literacy: A Biographical Assessment Method for the Physical Activity and Health Context (Carl et al., 2024 BMAP-PL). This innovative work introduces a unique approach to understanding and assessing physical literacy (PL) through a biographical lens, marking a significant leap forward in both research and practice within the fields of physical activity and health.
In their paper, the authors introduce the Biographical PL Mapping (BMAP-PL) method, a flexible and purpose-driven tool for exploring the individual journeys of physical literacy. This method aims to capture the unique paths people take through life regarding their physical activity, recognising the importance of personal experiences, transitions, and identity development. Unlike previous tools, BMAP-PL aligns closely with the idiosyncratic nature of physical literacy, acknowledging that every person’s story is different.
BMAP-PL unfolds across four phases:
- Introduction and Overview: A trained facilitator guides the participant through the purpose of the session.
- Personalisation and Registration of Life Events: Participants plot key life events and transitions that have influenced their relationship with physical activity.
- Evaluation and Visualisation of PL Dimensions: Participants reflect on their physical literacy journey, examining physical, cognitive, affective, and social dimensions.
- Final Overview: A holistic look back at the individual’s physical literacy journey.
This approach not only encourages participants to reflect on their past experiences but also enables them to explore how these experiences can shape future physical activity goals.
One of the most exciting aspects of BMAP-PL is its dual capability for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The method allows for in-depth narrative and thematic analysis of individual stories, providing rich qualitative insights into how people experience physical literacy over their lifetime. Simultaneously, it offers opportunities for statistical analysis across individuals and populations, enabling researchers to identify patterns, trends, and correlations.
The method facilitates a smooth transition into interventions aimed at fostering better wellbeing. By helping individuals explore their identities and reflect on how physical activity shapes who they are, BMAP-PL opens up pathways for goal setting, behavior change, and personal development.
While the conceptual groundwork for BMAP-PL is laid out in this paper, the authors emphasise the importance of complementing their ideas with empirical data. They outline a forward-looking agenda for future research, calling on the academic and health communities to explore and validate the method across diverse populations and contexts.
This paper represents an exciting advance in our understanding of physical literacy. By viewing each individual’s journey through a personalised, biographical lens, BMAP-PL promises to revolutionise how we approach health, activity, and personal wellbeing.
We congratulate Johannes Carl, Johannes Jaunig, Leonie Schnith, Jochen Mayer, Justen O’Connor, and Lisa Young on this outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing the impact of their work in the years to come.
Whether you’re a researcher, practitioner, or just someone passionate about health and physical activity, this paper is sure to inspire new ways of thinking about the lifelong journey of physical literacy!
READ FULL ARTICLE HERE.