Sport for Development (SfD) projects have the aim of improving people’s lives. However, the actual impact these projects have on individuals is highly debatable. Most approaches to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tend to focus on simplistic cause-and-effect approaches, whereas the more recent approach of Social Return on Investment (SROI) tries to measure impacts by attaching economic values to social behaviours. However, most M&E approaches tend to overlook the social complexities and nuances involved in individuals’ experiences of SfD. This project addresses these issues by using a sociological approach to understanding individuals’ meaningful experiences of SfD.
The aim of this project is to co-construct a sociologically informed and more meaningful version of M&E and to test it within the wider SfD field.
Key project objectives:
1. Conduct an in-depth ethnography into Dundee United Community Trust (DUCT) and run a series of participatory workshops among the DUCT stakeholders to co-construct new approaches to capturing and understanding impact in SfD to develop a new methodology for measuring SROI.
2. Apply the new SROI methodology to DUCTs current practices to pilot the measure.
3. Test the new SROI measure within the SfD field by working with 3 SfD organisations of varying size, scope, and reach, to pilot and develop proof of concept for the new measure.
It is anticipated that the output of this research be of widespread and significant benefit to SfD organisations and would lead to more meaningful accounts of M&E. The project would also involve delivering talks to various SfD stakeholders and audiences, including policy makers, practitioners, and participants. This aspect of the studentship will provide excellent experience for the student as well as increasing the impact of the research. The theoretical underpinning and novelty of the research will contribute to the academic field of SfD, sociology, and development studies, as well as areas such as youth work, business, and public health interventions. Research findings would be disseminated to both academic and public audiences, building both theoretical advances and real-world impact.
Applicants should submit through the Abertay University jobs page https://www.abertay.ac.uk/about/working-at-abertay/jobs/, submitting a personal statement of application detailing why you are interested in undertaking this project, and a CV. If you are selected for interview you will be required to complete an online Research Student Application Form which includes the submission of a research proposal. Guidance on how to write the proposal can be found here: https://www.abertay.ac.uk/study-apply/how-to-apply/how-to-apply/,Applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. David Scott ([Email Address Removed])for advice on developing a proposal prior to submitting it.
Abertay University was named The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year for Teaching Quality 2021. According to the results of the Research Excellence Framework 2021, Abertay recorded 60% of its research judged as 'internationally excellent' or 'world-leading', a 23% increase since the last REF2014 – the biggest climb of any Scottish university. Abertay was the first University in the world to offer a degree in games and in March 2017 and was top ranked in Europe for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in 2019. We hold an Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze award and were the first Scottish university to achieve the Race Equality Charter Mark.
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