Module SPRT3131: SOCIOLOGY OF SPORT

Department: APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES (SPORT)

SPRT3131: SOCIOLOGY OF SPORT

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• Designed to enable Level 3 students to acquire a more sophisticated conceptual framework of sociology of sport through the synthesis of previous study and the in-depth exploration of sociological perspectives and their application to sport.
• Designed to provide students with an understanding of social and cultural influences on participation in sport in contemporary society.
• Enable students to gain a critical understanding of sporting inequalities and the relationships between sport and social categories such as gender and sexuality, ethnicity, and class.
• In addition, the module will incorporate a range of current issues with theoretical and contemporary relevance including: violence, pain and injury, substance abuse, and harassment.

Content

• This module will provide a synthesis of the knowledge and understanding acquired in years 1 and 2.
• Students will examine key sociological theories and perspectives and apply them to contemporary sporting contexts. One focus of the module will be on issues related to inequalities, including an exploration of topics such as gender, ethnicity, social class, and sexuality. In addition, the module emphasises the exploration of selected current isues in sport using sociological perspectives. This includes topics relating to substance abuse, pain and injury, violence and harassment.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe and critique major perspectives used to study sociological aspects of sports experience.
• Identify and evaluate inequalities within sport including key issues relating to gender, social class, ethnicity, and sexuality.

• Critically evaluate selected current issues in sport from a sociological perspective.
• Gather and analyse semi-structured interview data.

• Plan and deliver a seminar session for peers, thus developing presentation skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• A variety of teaching and learning strategies are employed to enable students to attain the stated learning outcomes including lectures, seminar discussions, student-led seminars, handouts, question and answer sessions within lectures and seminars.
• Lectures enable students to gain key content knowledge and understanding related to the stated aims and learning outcomes. A variety of strategies are used to help transmit information including multi-media presentations, question and answer, tasks, handouts, and duo support. Students' cognitive understanding is assessed and developed through interactive strategies designed to gain student participation and feedback such as tasks, question and answer and discussion.
• Seminars are based around a particular piece of research relating to one of the key topics in the module and help students both develop and apply their knowledge. Seminars focus on student involvement that includes leading and participating in activities designed to enhance cognitive skills. In addition, students gain key skills as they must communicate effectively as presenters and participants, work interdependently to plan and deliver seminar sessions, and analyse and reflect on their practice.
• The assessment involves two essays and 1 reflective statement. The knowledge base is explored through two pieces of coursework based on the application of theory to specific sporting contexts. Cognitive skills are developed as the assessment requires that students read and critique ethnographic research, apply sociological theories and collect and analyse their own data. Students also provide a brief reflective statement on the development of the seminar and their analysis of its strengths and weakneses.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Optional - 1500 word essay.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University