Analysing the content of sport policies: Disciplinary approaches and new directions

Lindsey, Iain; Wigham, Stuart; Keech, Marc

Abstract

This article considers different disciplinary and conceptual approaches to analysing the content, goals and means of sport policies; a much-needed complement to theoretical development in the field that has otherwise focused on analysing policy processes. Four distinctive disciplinary and conceptual approaches to analysing sport policy content are identified: (i) specific sport-orientated analytic frameworks, such as the Sport Policy Factors Leading to International Sport Success (SPLISS) and the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI); (ii) discourse analysis approaches; (iii) political science frameworks for analysing policy design; and (iv) theories from political philosophy. Distinct sections through the article will explain fundamental characteristics of each approach in turn as well as identify the differing extents to which they have been used in analysing sport policy content to date. Interrogation of each approach and its existing and potential applications also considers their analytic and/or normative orientation, scope for analysing policy goals and/or means, associated methodological approaches, possibilities for comparison across countries or time, and potential to link analysis of policy content with associated policy processes. This appraisal of the four approaches leads to concluding recommendations to take forward scholarship in the sport policy field, through expanding usage of different approaches where suited to analysis of specific types of sport policies and combining approaches where their synergies would enable more substantive analysis to be undertaken.

Citation

Lindsey, I., Wigham, S., & Keech, M. (online). Analysing the content of sport policies: Disciplinary approaches and new directions. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2024.2378147

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 27, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jul 16, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 10, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 19, 2024
• Journal: International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics
• Print ISSN: 1940-6940
• Electronic ISSN: 1940-6959
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2024.2378147
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2481217