Reframing the ‘social’ in social return on investment: constructing more meaningful monitoring and evaluation in sport for development and beyond.

PhD Studentship: R-LINCS2 funded. The Studentship is available for an October 2022, February or June 2023 start.

A PhD studentship that comprises tax-free stipend of £16,062 (increasing in line with UKRI per annum) per year over 3.5 years, tuition fees paid, and a generous study package (e.g. limited research consumables, travel budget, and training when appropriate). 

The pan-University Graduate School offers an integrated training programme to the postgraduate community within a single centre, serving to inculcate interdisciplinary working in our next generation of researchers.

Interviews are likely to be online in early September 2022.

Project Description:

Current approaches to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tend to rely on simplistic linear logic models, which depict the progression and impact experienced on a development project as a straightforward cause-and-effect process of inputting resources and outcomes being received. An example of this, Social Return on Investment, builds on this positivist-inspired approach of measuring impact by converting social outcomes into economic values. As such, there is little accounting for external variables on results, meaning that the complexities involved in Sport for Development practice, participation, and M&E are negated. This project will address these issues by utilising a sociologically informed methodology which draws upon meaningfulness in sport participation (e.g. Breivik, 2021) and philosophical frameworks which forefront individuals’ understandings of their first-hand experiences (e.g. Merleau-Ponty’s [1967] existential-phenomenology).

The aim of this project is to co-construct a more sociologically informed and meaningful version of M&E and to test it within the wider Sport for Development field.

Key project objectives:

1. Conduct an in-depth immersion 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 Sport for Development to develop a new methodology for measuring Social Return on Investment.
2. Apply the new Social Return on Investment methodology to DUCTs current practices to pilot the measure.
3. Test the new Social Return on Investment measure within the Sport for Development field by experiencing 3 Sport for Development 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 Sport for Development organisations and would lead to more meaningful accounts of M&E. The project would also involve delivering talks to various Sport for Development 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 Sport for Development, sociology, and development studies, as well as areas such as youth work, business, and public health interventions.

Supervisory Team: The candidate will be supervised within the Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences by Dr David Scott and Prof David Lavallee, and within the Division of Sociology by Dr Donncha Marron. Queries on this project should be directed to Dr. David Scott ([Email Address Removed]).

Entry Requirements: Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a first class or upper second-class honours degree in a Sport related (e.g. Sport Development and Coaching, Sport and Management, Sport Studies), or a closely aligned discipline (e.g. Sociology, Business Studies). We are looking for an independent, enthusiastic, and driven candidate with an understanding of sport for development. Applicants should have experience in designing and running sport-based research studies including interviews, research methods and qualitative analysis.

The successful candidate will likely have had some experience of working with children and a clear criminal records check and obtain clearance to work with children via the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. Candidates must work well with others and represent the university when working with key stakeholders (e.g., Dundee United Community Trust).

For applicants who are non-native speakers of English, the University requires IELTS of 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0) or an equivalent qualification accepted by the Home Office.

Applications and closing date: 29^th August 2022

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.

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements:

• First class or upper second-class honours degree in Sport related degree or a closely aligned discipline. 
• Experience in working with qualitative designs
• Good scientific writing
• Good organisational skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• No previous criminal record that prohibits work with children (prospective candidate will have to successfully apply to PVG scheme after commencement of PhD)
• Applicants who are non-native speakers of English, the University requires IELTS of 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0) or an equivalent qualification accepted by the Home Office

Desirable requirements (but not essential)

• Masters of science level qualification in a relevant discipline
• Experience in working with key stakeholders in Sport for Development
• Experience in participatory research with children and/or sports organisations
• Involvement in the preparation of articles for publication in scientific journal(s)
• Experience in working with children