Participation in Competitive Sport Among Anglophones and Francophones in Canada: Testing Competing Hypotheses

Abstract

This paper provides tests of competing hypotheses on participation in competitive sport by anglophones and francophones in Canada. Two competing sets of theoretical arguments inform the analysis — one based on an ethnic value differences perspective and the other on an ethnic homogenization perspective. The first view argues that there are key differences in achievement orientation between the Canadian anglophone and francophone language groups. This being the case, anglophones should be more likely than francophones to be involved in competitive sport. Also, among those involved in sport, reported motives of "competition" and "personal challenge" should be more frequent for anglophones than francophones. The competing line of argument has it that, as a consequence of the economic and political modernization of French Canada, francophones have adopted values and behaviours that are highly similar to those of their anglophone counterparts. By this view, there should be minimal, if any, differences in participation in and orientation toward competitive sport between anglophones and francophones. The hypotheses are tested in multivariate analyses of national survey data on forms of sport involvement among male and female Canadian adults. The findings are much as predicted by the value differences thesis both for involvement in competitive sport and for reasons for involvement.