Affiliation:
1. Nottingham Trent University, UK
2. Independent scholar, UK
3. University of Brighton, UK
Abstract
The training regimes which are associated with boxing are thought to impart lessons in discipline that are particularly valuable for social groups often associated with the sport. This leads to a variety of sport for development programmes that seek to leverage this potential in one way or another. Research which is conducted on such programmes is often produced internally without academic support. We argue it is possible, and perhaps likely, for such research to evidence, justify and recreate sporting myths. To this end, we explore the allure and apparent utility of boxing as a sport for social development. We then consider how people involved in such programmes attempted to evidence their passionate beliefs in boxing's positive potentials. Rather than considering myths as being completely unfettered from objective reality, we have explored how they are part of an interactional process that can produce stubbornly persistent accounts of the world. We present this analysis as evidence of the ways that myths can become embedded in people’s lives and, as such, must be conceptualised accurately, accounted for empirically and explored using considered research strategies. Our observations paint an awkward picture of the validity of the evidence-base upon which boxing programmes boasted of their success. That is, embracing personal biases and avoiding rigorous, critical research methods were being financially incentivised, with no external accountability for challenging pre-conceived ideas and a priori conclusions. Our concluding remarks situate these claims within ongoing ontological, epistemological and axiological debates which sport development scholars have developed.
Funder
Nottingham Trent University
Subject
Social Sciences (miscellaneous),Sociology and Political Science
Reference70 articles.
1. Pacifism and the Eastern Martial Arts
2. Barrett D, Edmondson L, Millar R, et al. (2020) Evaluating the impact of boxing clubs on their host communities. Report published by England Boxing. available: https://www.englandboxing.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Final-pdf-workforce-research.pdf (accessed 27 December 2021).
3. Sociological Implications of the Thought of George Herbert Mead
Cited by
2 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献