Philosophy and the Sciences of Exercise, Health and Sport

Can sports science research ever be 'theory neutral'?What role does 'experience' play in our assessment or statistical data?This unique interdisciplinary study calls on scientists and social scientists involved in the study of sport to reflect critically on the nature and aims of scientific enquiry. Leading researches from physiology, psychology, biomechanics, sociology, philosophy, coaching and statistics address the conceptual debates underpinning research within their respective fields and challenge to the prevailing orthodoxy of positivism and reductive science.By bringing together such a broad range of methodological perspectives, the book aims to redress some of the effects of specialisation within sport science and to help bridge the gap between philosophical sociology and the 'white-coated practitioner'. Including contributions from Ron Manghan, Tim Noakes, Jim Parney, Nanette Mutrie, Fred Yeadon, Andrew Sparkes and john Sugden, this essential reading for any sport science student or researcher looking to establish a sound theoretical foundation for their work.