Current and Future Orientations: The Sociology of Sport

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the present and future status of the Sociology of Sport. A sample of 36 individuals who have published or taught extensively in the field were sent questionnaires for information regarding themselves and their educa tional institutions. Results demonstrated that over 66 percent of the respondents spend 50 percent or more of their research time in the field of Sport Sociology. The most popular areas of interest within the discipline were socialization, racism, stratification, youth sports and the social structure of sport. Analysis discovered that 37 new formal courses were initiated between 1975 and 1979, as compared to 25 during 1970-74 and six during 1966-69. Also, the data indicated that sport courses in Sociology were more popular than those in Physical Education. The number of graduate students in the field was found to have increased steadily since 1973, with current enrollments being 19 Masters and 9 Ph.D. candidates. The respondents indicated an optimistic attitude toward the growth of the discipline with the primary restriction being based on the "legitimate" status given to the field by individuals within the larger disciplines of Sociology and Physical Education.

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