- Learn to analyze sports (sportparticipation in particular) from a sociological perspective, learn to position debates over sport within larger sociological themes (e.g. social inequality, cohesion, modernization);
- Develop an overview of the sportsector as a social practice (amount of people involved, organizations involved, economic and social significance) in different countries / parts of the worlds; learn to relate trends and developments in sport to broader social and cultural developments;
- Learn to analyze sportpolicies from a sociological viewpoint;
- Learn to apply the above knowledge to a specific theme, e.g. explaining differences in sportparticipation, by putting together a position paper on this subject; learn to search for and integrate relevant data and literature.
|
|
In this course students learn to apply a sociological perspective to a specific issue, in this case sports (sportparticipation in particular). Stimulating physical activity through sports is something that involves both central and local governments in most countries, as well as enterprises, schools and citizens (volunteers). Sports can rely on a great deal of sympathy, yet is also often the subject of anti-pathy and distrust. Sport touches upon broader issues such as health, social inclusion, lifestyles and identities, but also violence and aggression. That is what makes sports such a fascinating subject for sociological analyses.
In this course we will look at the origins of sports, its development into a full grown social practice, participation rates and explanations for non-participation, its connection to other fields such as public health and well being, and the available literature and datasets (e.g. Eurobarometers, Eurostat-data, ISSP). At the end of the course students have a better understanding of sociology and have learned to apply a sociological perspective to a specific theme, in this case to the field of sports. |
|
|