Critical Discourse Analysis as Theory, Methodology, and Analyses in Sport Management Studies

Abstract

Critical discourse analysis (CDA) is a theory, methodology, and type of analysis used across various fields, including linguistics, sociology, and philosophy. CDA focuses on how language is used; discourses are found within language, and knowledge is created through these discourses. CDA can be beneficial to sport management scholars who seek to question existing power structures. The purpose of this paper was to highlight the value and appropriateness of CDA for Journal of Sport Management readers in an effort to see this approach become more prevalent in the journal. The authors shared their perspectives about the lack of critical qualitative methodologies in Journal of Sport Management, presented theoretical foundations of CDA, showcased its application in sport management studies, and explored four theoretical, methodological, and analytical approaches for future use. The authors also provided suggestions for scholars to adopt discourse-related methodologies to enhance knowledge creation in their field. Finally, the authors acknowledged the limitations of this approach.

Critical Social Science in Sport Management Research: A Scoping Review

“…This finding indicates the potential of employing critical social science for expanding how research is conducted in the field. This potential has been discussed previously (Frisby, 2005), and sport management scholars specifically have suggested that variety in research methods and approaches could further strengthen the field (Olafson, 1995;Sotiriadou and Shilbury, 2010;van der Roest et al, 2015;Sveinson et al, 2021). Therefore, this finding provides further reasoning for employing a critical approach in sport management work and the value of such approaches for the field.…”

“…As mentioned in the introduction, sport sociology and general sociology journals publish critical work extensively, and therefore authors may find their critical sport management research is more welcomed in those outlets compared to sport management or business/administration outlets. Additionally, scholars have pointed to the tendency of sport management journals to privilege post-positivist work over more critical or qualitative approaches (e.g., Knoppers, 2015;Sveinson et al, 2021). Analyzing future trends can provide insight into the accuracy of the assumption that sport management journals are overall less open to publishing critical research.…”

“…Critical research approaches, and articulating such approaches clearly, help to unpack systemic issues within social spheres, and therefore offer new insight into areas that need improvement. Critical approaches typically offer the opportunity to investigate power structures within taken-for-granted systems and provide researchers with the tools for understanding how and why systems may be exclusive, oppressive, or otherwise need improvement (Knoppers, 2015;Sveinson et al, 2021). In sport specifically, this is important for practice to determine how to best provide programming and sport resources to as many people as possible.…”

“…Methodological approaches such as autoethnography (Hoeber and Kerwin, 2013;Cooper et al, 2017) and participatory action research (Frisby et al, 2005;Shaw and Hoeber, 2016;Hoeber and Shaw, 2017) are particularly valuable for critical social science. Most recently, Sveinson et al (2021) have advocated for increased use of critical discourse analysis as a theory, methodology, and analysis in sport management scholarship. These methods engage diverse perspectives with a particular focus on advancing equity within sport, an important component of critical social science and associated research approaches.…”

‘Mind Your Business and Leave My Rolls Alone’: A Case Study of Fat Black Women Runners’ Decolonial Resistance

“…Critical discourse analysis as a methodology focuses on the use of language and the discourses within it and on understanding how knowledge is shaped through such discourses [55]. While it has been used in sport studies to analyze interviews [56], newspapers [57], and magazine articles [58], critical discourse analysis remains underutilized to analyze social media related to sport.…”