RESEARCH GROUP for STUDIES in SPORT,
          EDUCATION, and PHYSICAL CULTURE

 Directors:  Susan G. Zieff, Ph.D.; Maria J. Veri, Ph.D.; Louisa Webb, Ph.D
.
                                          Department of Kinesiology
                                          San Francisco State University
                                          1600 Holloway Ave.
                                          San Francisco, CA 94132-4161

                                          phone: (415) 338.2244
                                          http://online.sfsu.edu/~sepc

Mission Statement

The Research Group for Studies in Sport, Education, and Physical Culture is an interdisciplinary academic center concerned with raising awareness of and conducting research on sociocultural issues in sport and physical activity.  Housed in the Department of Kinesiology at San Francisco State University, the Research Group has as its guiding mission a commitment to promote widespread understanding of sociological, historical, pedagogical, political, and cultural processes in sport and other forms of physical culture.  We are interested in developing new approaches to the study of physical culture to address community-wide concerns and build working relationships with individuals and groups engaged in various facets of physical culture at the local, regional, national, and international levels.  The Research Group is concerned with social identity (i.e. race, gender, sexuality) and physical culture; critical pedagogy and physical education; forms of social inequality in physical activity; curriculum development in Kinesiology; cultural representation in sport; issues related to urban public space, youth culture, and physical activity; legislation affecting physical activity opportunities (i.e. Title IX, Americans with Disabilities Act); political processes in sport; commodification and cultural consumption of recreational/fitness industry offerings; coaching and youth sport; and the intersection of physical activity and popular culture.  In its work and research, the Institute draws from progressive social theories – feminist theories, critical race theory, multiculturalism, postcolonial theory, queer theory – in hopes of bringing qualitative, postmodern approaches more squarely into the domain of pedagogy and sport studies, and using these theories to address the experiences of individuals and groups in sport and other realms of physical culture. 

We welcome collaboration with other faculty and university members, and with external writers, educators, policymakers, groups, and institutions. 

 Objectives

  q       Serve as a forum to bring together experts on teaching and research in order to share collective
            knowledge and generate new knowledge on sport and physical culture

q       Enhance teaching activities at the university, scholastic, and community levels, including liaising with physical education teachers on sociocultural and pedagogical issues

q       Involve undergraduate and graduate students in research and/or community service projects

q       Assist in the development of policies for the governance of sport and physical activity in schools and local and regional agencies

q       Monitor the contemporary cultural and political climate for signs of discrimination (i.e. sexism, racism, heterosexism, classism) in the realm of sport and physical activity