Where's the "evidence"? Reflecting on monitoring and evaluation within sport-for-development

Ruth Jeanes, Iain Lindsey

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (Book)Researchpeer-review

    50 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Purpose-The purpose of this chapter is to critically examine the extensive calls for enhanced evidence within the sport-for-development field. The chapter questions whether these are appropriate and realistic. Design/methodology/ approach-The chapter utilizes current literature to deconstruct the assumptions that increased evidence will legitimize the field of sport-for-development, improve practice and enhance future policy. The authors' own experiences, working as external evaluators, are also drawn upon to critique the value of current "evidence." Findings-The chapter illustrates how current calls for evidence are somewhat misguided and are unlikely to fully realize the intended consequence of validating sport-for-development or improving future practice. Utilizing personal reflections, the impact that Global North/Global South power imbalances have on data is discussed, suggesting that this will rarely lead to data that provide a detailed understanding of work in practice. Research limitations/implications-The chapter builds on the work of other authors illustrating the importance of disconnecting research from evidence and monitoring and evaluation in the sport-for-development field. Originality/value-The chapter utilizes previous literature but also provides a rarely available personal perspective on the issue of evidence that continues to permeate the rationale behind undertaking research within sport-for- development.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationSport, Social Development and Peace
    EditorsKevin Young, Chiaki Okada
    Place of PublicationUK
    PublisherEmerald Group Publishing Limited
    Pages197 - 217
    Number of pages21
    Volume8
    ISBN (Print)9781783508853
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2014

    Publication series

    NameResearch in the Sociology of Sport
    Volume8
    ISSN (Print)14762854

    Keywords

    • Evidence
    • Impact
    • Monitoring and evaluation
    • Sport-for-development

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