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Comparing Sporting Nations: Theory and Method [Minkštas viršelis]

  • Formatas: Paperback / softback, 192 pages
  • Išleidimo metai: 28-May-2021
  • Leidėjas: Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd
  • ISBN-10: 1782552162
  • ISBN-13: 9781782552161
Kitos knygos pagal šią temą:
  • Formatas: Paperback / softback, 192 pages
  • Išleidimo metai: 28-May-2021
  • Leidėjas: Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd
  • ISBN-10: 1782552162
  • ISBN-13: 9781782552161
Kitos knygos pagal šią temą:
It is the essence of human nature to compare, and nowhere are comparisons more commonplace than in sport. This book focuses specifically on the comparison of sporting nations. Making meaningful comparisons (i.e. comparing the similarities and differences between social phenomena based upon empirical observation) is difficult and resource intensive and faces a host of methodological limitations, trade-offs and practical compromises.

Despite these ongoing issues, there remains no introductory texts that outline the philosophical, methodological and practical challenges of comparative analysis as it applies to sport. This book is therefore the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive overview of the theory and method of comparing sporting nations illustrated through specific examples and case studies drawn from the comparative elite sport policy/management domain.

In doing so, the book provides an important point of departure and reference for anyone seeking to making comparisons and to generate more focus and attention towards the logic of comparative inquiry and methodology within sport.

Recenzijos

Independently reviewed by the International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics; ...Comparing sporting nations is a textbook directed to students, young researchers and advanced researchers. It is addressing philosophical and methodological issues related to sport context, sport sociology, sport science, sport management, sport economy, sport law and sport policy. The authors underline the fact that it is not a step-by-step guide but rather a philosophical analysis and discourse of what can and what cannot be done with comparative analysis. However, by guiding a reader through the concepts, they succeed in actually creating a logical roadmap for researchers to follow while undertaking comparative research related to sport. The particular chapters of the book can also be used in the process of analysing research presented by other authors, by allowing further understanding of limitations and trade-offs their method and philosophical assumptions imposed on their scientific inquiry and findings. The authors do not seek to promote comparative analysis as an universal and simple tool, much rather they present deep overview of the topic, so readers can make more informed decision related to their own research and that authored by others." Grzegorz Botwina (2022): Comparing sporting nations: theory and method, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics

Acknowledgements 9(1)
Introduction -- The Logic of Comparative Inquiry in Sport 10(9)
PART I WHY COMPARE SPORTING NATIONS -- PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS AND THEORETICAL APPROACHES
Chapter 1 Is It Possible to Compare Apples With Oranges? The Difficulties, Challenges and Limitations of Comparing Sporting Nations
19(23)
The Comparative Approach -- Comparing Apples With Oranges
20(1)
Recognising the Limitations of Comparative Analysis
21(6)
The Elite Sport Policy/Management Domain -- The Global Sporting Arms Race
27(4)
Challenges and Limitations of Comparative Inquiry in Sport
31(8)
Chapter Summary
39(3)
Chapter 2 Knowledge Claims and Philosophical Assumptions of Comparing Sporting Nations
42(22)
Knowledge Claims and Philosophical Assumptions
45(6)
Strategies of Inquiry -- Methodology, Method and Sources
51(1)
Methodology -- Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed-Methods
51(2)
Methods -- The Experimental, the Statistical and the Comparative Method
53(4)
Sources -- Case-Oriented vs. Variable-Oriented Approaches
57(3)
Chapter Summary
60(4)
Chapter 3 Why Compare Sporting Nations? Purpose, Goals and Level of Analysis
64(17)
Why Compare? Motivations for Comparison
65(2)
Contextual Description
67(1)
Classification
68(1)
Hypothesis Testing
69(1)
Prediction
69(1)
Use of Theory in Comparative Inquiry
70(3)
Level of Analysis -- Macro, Meso and Micro
73(4)
Chapter Summary
77(4)
PART II HOW TO COMPARE SPORTING NATIONS -- METHODS, PROTOCOL AND PRACTICE
Chapter 4 Selecting Countries (Sampling)
81(18)
The Nation State -- Appropriate Unit of Analysis?
82(3)
Large-N/Small-N Approaches to Comparison
85(4)
Large-N/Small-N -- The Methodological Trade-Off
89(1)
Most Similar System Designs/Most Different System Designs
90(4)
Choosing Between MSSD/MDSD Approaches
94(1)
Moving Beyond the MSSD/MDSD Distinction
95(1)
Chapter Summary
95(4)
Chapter 5 Ensuring Construct, Sample and Functional Equivalence
99(20)
Construct Equivalence
101(4)
Sample Equivalence
105(2)
Functional Equivalence
107(6)
Chapter Summary
113(6)
Chapter 6 Data Collection, Analysis and Outputs
119(17)
Data Collection -- Access and Analysis
121(1)
Participant (Sample) Recruitment
121(2)
Data Access/Availability Issues -- Quality and Quantity
123(2)
Researcher Convenience and Selection Bias
125(1)
Protocol Standardisation
126(1)
Data Time-Lag
127(1)
Cross-Sectional Data Limitations
128(1)
Funding and Resource Constraints
129(1)
Data Output -- Presentation and Generalisation
130(1)
Data Reduction/Oversimplification
130(1)
Overstating Study Findings
131(1)
Indeterminant Study Findings
132(1)
Misinterpretation of Generalisability
133(1)
Chapter Summary
134(2)
PART III DECONSTRUCTING COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS: COMMON THEMES AND NEW DIRECTIONS
Chapter 7 Comparative Analysis Within Sport: Challenging the Orthodoxy and Avoiding the Doldrums
136(13)
Advancing Comparative Sport Research
138(8)
Key
Chapter Reading - Comparing Sporting Nations
146(1)
Key Concepts (By Authors)
147(2)
References 149(9)
About the Authors 158
Dr Mathew Dowling is a senior lecturer at the Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, UK. He completed his PhD at the University of Alberta, Canada, and is alma mater of Loughborough University, UK. His current research interests focus on the application of organisational and political theory to understand sport organisations and systems. He is widely published in sport policy and politics, organisational change, systemic governance, professionalistion and comparative methods in sport.

Dr Spencer Harris is an associate professor of Sport Management at the University of Colorado, US. He has more than 30 years of experience within the sport development industry and has worked for the University of Hertfordshire, Sport England and Right to Play. He completed his PhD at Loughborough University, UK. His research interests centre on sport governance and, specifically, the sport-politics-power relationship