Theories of Sport and Exercise

Andy Smith

Student Workshop, Copenhagen Summer School 2011

Theory? Oh Dear.

Why Bother?

Key Premises and Observations• (1) Scholars in sport and exercise

often arrive at very different answers to the same questions

• (2) One reason is that they frequently approach their study from quite different theoretical positions

• (3) In the social scientific study of sport there are several differing and often conflicting theoretical approaches

• (4) As students, you will inevitably be confronted with (often daunting) theoretical dilemmas

Introductory Questions• (1) What is the purpose of theory?

• (2) To what extent can different theories be combined to study sport and exercise?

• (3) What is the relationship between theory, methods, and evidence?

• (4) What are the opportunities and challenges of multi-disciplinary approaches to the study of sport and exercise ?

• (5) What are the opportunities and challenges of inter-disciplinary approaches to the study of sport and exercise ?

The Role of Theory (like a map)• It aids in providing an understanding of

what is being observed/studied

• Provides a guide to observation, signalling what to look out for and what to ignore

• Assists the observer in attempting to make connections or links between evidence

• Helps researchers attempt to make systematic sense of human beings and the societies that they form

• Is a guide to identifying patterns of behaviour and social relationships in sport and exercise

The Role of Theory (like a map)• Help us select relevant data

• Helps provide explanations of sport and exercise that have a degree of adequacy

• An unavoidable interdependence or ‘two-way traffic’ (Elias, 1978) between theory and evidence

• So try to think with a ‘theoretically prepared mind’ (Merton, 1967: 12)

• There is nothing as practical as good theory!

Theories of Sport and ExerciseTheory Application to Sport and

Exercise

Key assumptions

Key concepts

Strengths

Weaknesses

Making Sense of Sport and Exercise• The relationship between the

‘individual’ and ‘society’?

• The relationship between human values and understanding?

• Our job as sociologists (scientists) as destroyers of myths?

• ‘The fascination of sociology lies in the fact that its perspective makes us see in a new light the very world in which we have lived all our lives’ (Berger, 1963: 33)

‘Seeing Through the Eyes of Others’• Interpreting society and sport

from the perspective of others

• The importance of what Weber called Verstehen – search for empathetic meaning and understanding

• The importance of context and process

• The dangers of ‘going native’ (Young, 1971)

Body Ritual among the Nacirema• Written by Miner – an anthropologist

writing in the style of ethnography

• An account about the body related rituals of a cultural group called “the Nacirema”

• Q: Who are the Nacirema?• Q: What do we learn about the culture of

the Nacirema?• Q: How does Miner’s description of the

Nacirema affect our ability to identify them?

• Q: What writing techniques does Miner use to describe the Nacirema?

Questions from the Nacirema• How does the article help you understand your own

view of other cultures and how you are viewed by other cultures?

• And why do some of the practices and rituals of other cultures seem foreign to you?

• What assumptions did you make about the Nacirema?

• How does your personal involvement, assumptions and cultural norms and values affect your understanding and perceptions of other people/cultures?

Lessons from the Nacirema• Objective: to make the familiar unfamiliar

• It is as if Miner is from another planet and is merely reporting what he observes without the benefit of any understanding of the culture he describes

• So: your personal involvement is vital to making sense of your research ideas and data, but it can also be a threat to your understanding

• What techniques can we use to notice when we are making assumptions about others, and how can we minimize this?