Resourcefulness, reciprocity and reflexivity: the three Rs of partnership in sport for public health research

Abstract

This paper explores the dynamics of research-policy-practice (RPP) partnerships in sport. Such partnerships, involving a diverse range of groups, have emerged as a response to: (1) a contemporary political prioritisation in the use of sport for health and wellbeing and (2) a parallel requirement for robust evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. A conceptual framework for understanding such RPP partnerships is proposed and discussed in relation to three overlapping characteristics; resourcefulness, reciprocity and reflexivity. The paper concludes that understanding these three Rs of RPP partnerships is a way to demythologise the role of sport in public health and present theoretically informed analyses about processes of knowledge production, dissemination and use. It is a conceptual framework which might also further an understanding of, and make public, issues concerning the legitimation of some forms of evidence over others, and potentially maximise the impact of the co-production of knowledge about sport for public health and wellbeing.

Local Policymaking in Sport: Sport Managers’ Perspectives on Work Processes and Impact

“…At best there were indications that policy initiatives had contributed to achieving policy goals. This confirms the idea of limited reflexivity of sport policy found in previous studies (Mansfield, 2016;Houlihan, 2005). Hoekman and Van der Maat (2017) reported that only 10% of the municipalities can prove that their sport policy activities are effective and contribute to (the majority of) the objectives of sport policy.…”

“…Unlike most other policy areas, sport policy, and especially local sport policy, has rarely been subject to extensive critical analysis. Much is therefore unknown about the actual functioning and development of local sport policy (Houlihan, 2005;Mansfield, 2016). It remains unclear how the described national development of sport as a social right to sport as a means works out at the local level.…”

A qualitative investigation of the role of sport coaches in designing and delivering a complex community sport intervention for increasing physical activity and improving health

“…The present study also reinforces the potential in co-design approaches for ensuring that the needs of all stakeholders are addressed and that there is shared ownership and responsibility for project outcomes [ 50 , 51 ]. The findings support calls for workforce development, knowledge exchange and partnership approaches in the community sport sector to reflect public health concerns connected to raising physical activity levels [ 22 , 52 ]. It is emphasised that there remain challenges in overcoming negative perceptions of sport and in scaling up public health and community sport partnerships for population level change in physical activity.…”

‘Like, what even is a podcast?’ Approaching sport-for-development youth participatory action research through digital methodologies

“…Challenges in PAR include reconciling the diverse types and objectives of stakeholder involvement (Vooberg, Bekkers & Tummers, 2015), while distributing power and control (Frisby, Crawford, and Dorer 1997;Frisby et al 2005), and establishing a mutual learning process through reflexive and reciprocal exchange (Mansfield 2016). Further, meaningful co-production and execution of the 'action' stage within any PAR project is far from guaranteed (Kesby 2007).…”