Mapping the Field of “AR”: Adventure Racing and Bourdieu’s Concept of Field

2002 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Kay ◽  
Suzanne Laberge

Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of field, this paper explores the particular stakes and struggles that animate both the relationships among adventure racing (AR) participants and the competition among race organizers in order to highlight the social dynamic and power structure of this new “lifestyle” sport. Our investigation relies on a diversity of qualitative data, namely semi-structured interviews with 37 AR participants. Adventure Racing Association Listserve discussion, and participant observation of Eco-Challenge Argentina 1999. Our analysis demonstrates that what is at stake in the AR field is both the definition of the sport practice’s legitimate form as well as its orientation with respect to two dominant delineating forces: “authenticity” and “spectacularization” of the adventure. These two forces currently constitute the specific forms of capital (sources of prestige) that define the AR field.

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Dias

This paper addresses the relations between migrants, mobility, tactics, negotiation, and the contemporary definition of borders in the aftermath of 9/11.The empirical focus of this paper is how Brazilians from Alto Paranaiba journey through airports located in the Schengen area and in the British territory to London. As a main research orientation, I use the notion of journey as approached by mobility studies, where actions and skills remain an important link between the wayfarer and the social space in which s/he moves through, the embodied practice to how we grasp the world. Migrants deal and struggle against border regime, but they are not powerless social actors. They rather produce creative resistance to reinvent their journey through the surveillance apparatus, which manage and delimit places with targets and threats. In this process, I explore the notion of border crossing movement as a tactical mobility developed by migrants to overcome the border control imposed by governments in airports. The article was drawn through fieldwork conducted initially in London, between 2009 and 2013, and afterwards in Alto Paranaiba, during 2013. The ethnographic study consisted in semi-structured interviews, participant observation through snowball technique, which enabled me to access a considerable number of participants in these two regions explored. The argument that I develop is that migrants as social actors are part important in the dialogue produced between border crossing and border reinforcement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 244-261
Author(s):  
Dr. Théophile Bindeouè Nassè ◽  
Naab Francis Xavier ◽  
Bismark Boateng ◽  
Nicolas Carbonell ◽  
Justice Agyei Ampofo ◽  
...  

Researchers' interest in consumer religiosity and behavior is explained by the fact that religion influences not only the social behavior of individuals, but also their consumption behavior. Most of the studies on the subject come from Western and Asian countries with a few of such studies been conducted in Africa and particularly in Ghana. The aim of this paper is to explore the concepts of religiosity and consumer behavior in Ghana, in order to consider the role of culture in the management and marketing of industrial products. Ghana is a country where religion plays an important role in shaping lives and ensuring community cohesion. However, a determined part of the believers contributes to increasing the consumption of industrial beverages, and the obliviousness in the marketing sector also seems to be a barrier that slows the production and consumption of non-alcoholic industrial beverages. The research approach is exploratory and qualitative. The collection of qualitative data is done with the aid of a SONY voice recorder through some semi-structured interviews. Then, the qualitative data are transcribed manually and verbatim analyzed. The results show that in the context of Ghana, religiosity of believers affects the behavior of the consumer and that consumer behavior towards non-alcoholic industrial beverages affects religiosity. Keywords: Religiosity, Consumer Behavior, Industrial Beverages, Consumption, Marketing, Ghana.


2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-192
Author(s):  
Sofie Boldsen

Abstract Autistic difficulties with social interaction have primarily been understood as expressions of underlying impairment of the ability to ‘mindread.’ Although this understanding of autism and social interaction has raised controversy in the phenomenological community for decades, the phenomenological criticism remains largely on a philosophical level. This article helps fill this gap by discussing how phenomenology can contribute to empirical methodologies for studying social interaction in autism. By drawing on the phenomenology of Maurice Merleau-Ponty and qualitative data from an ongoing study on social interaction in autism, I discuss how qualitative interviews and participant observation can yield phenomenologically salient data on social interaction. Both, I argue, enjoy their phenomenological promise through facilitating attention to the social-spatial-material fields in and through which social interactions and experiences arise. By developing phenomenologically sound approaches to studying social interaction, this article helps resolve the deficiency of knowledge concerning experiential dimensions of social interaction in autism.


The chapter is divided into five sections. The first section discusses the interview method from the social constructionist and qualitative perspectives. The second section contains information related to the procedures of undertaking focus group discussion in qualitative projects. The different types of observation methods are highlighted in Section 3, but only participant and non-participant observation variants are discussed. The primary and secondary documents are addressed in Section 4, and examples are given. The chapter is concluded by a question and answer section, where important questions are raised and answered in a simple way.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4904
Author(s):  
Nan Yang ◽  
Gerbrand van Hout ◽  
Loe Feijs ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Jun Hu

With the development of sensing technology and the popularization of quantified-self devices, there are increasing types of health-related data that can be sensed, visualized and presented to the user. However, most existing quantified-self applications are designed to support self-management and self-reflection; only a few studies so far have investigated the social aspect of quantified-self data. In this study, we investigated the social role of quantified-self data by introducing the design and evaluation of SocialBike—a digitally augmented bicycle that aims to increase the user’s intrinsic motivation in physical activity through on-site quantified-self data sharing. We conducted a controlled experiment on a cycling simulation system. Two forms of SocialBike’s on-bike display were evaluated with 36 participants. We used the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory to collect quantitative data about users’ intrinsic motivation in physical activity; the cycling simulation system recorded quantitative data about user behavior. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews. We conducted paired sample t-test to analyze both types of quantitative data; qualitative data were analyzed by the method of thematic analysis. The results show that SocialBike’s front display significantly increased users’ intrinsic motivation in physical activity. A total of nine themes were identified from the qualitative analysis, providing supplementary explanations for the quantitative results and additional insights into the overall design.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 761-776
Author(s):  
David Wren

PurposeThis paper presents exploratory, empirical data from a three-year study of organizational culture in for-profit, employee-owned businesses within the UK, comparing ownership types (direct, trust, and cooperative). It outlines the study and then focuses on worker cooperatives. Culture is illuminated through the lens of performance and reward management.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data was gathered from three worker cooperatives based in the North of England, using semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document review and was compared to qualitative data collected from other types of employee-owned businesses.FindingsThe findings suggest a distinct culture within worker cooperatives encompassing five key values: a whole life perspective, consistently shared values, self-ownership, self-control, and secure employment.Research limitations/implicationsAdditional time with each cooperative and a greater spread of cooperatives would be beneficial. The research was carried out during a period of organizational growth for the case organizations, which may influence attitudes to reward and retention management.Practical implicationsThe results inform recruitment and retention policy and practice within worker cooperatives and highlight concerns regarding the stresses of being a self-owner. These are important considerations for potential worker co-operatives alongside policy recommendations to advance employee ownership.Originality/valueA comparative analysis of culture, performance, and rewards across different employee ownership types has not been undertaken before. This addresses an under-researched area of employee ownership regarding HR practices. Within the UK, recent research on the culture(s) of worker cooperatives is limited.


2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Gabriela Silveira de Paula ◽  
Patrícia Do Socorro Magalhães Franco Espírito-Santo

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the social representations of the elderly on aging and experiences related to health involved in this process. Methodology: the qualitative methodology was applied; data collection was carried out through participant observation, semi-structured interviews and field journal. The interviews were recorded, and a signed a free and clear consent form was obtained, with seven elderly volunteers in Franca – São Paulo, Brazil. The study was approved by Uni-FACEF´s Research Ethics Committee (035/2009). Results: from the analyses of the interviews, three social representations were found among which health constituted the center of discussion: (1) Life silencing: a stigmatized old age where health is determined by declining physical and mental capacities; (2) New identity: an active old age where health is what provides freedom and independence; (3) A natural process: old age is an expected stage and health is spiritual well-being. Conclusions: these results show that social representations of old age are associated to the current redefinition of health; to a positive concept of health; and to the individual’s responsibility for health, that is associated with the aging reprivatization. Key words: Aging; health; social representations; contemporaneity. RESUMO Objetivo: compreender as representações sociais do idoso acerca do envelhecer e das vivências relativas à saúde implicadas neste processo. Metodologia: utilizou-se a metodologia qualitativa, a coleta de dados foi realizada por meio da observação participante, entrevistas semi-estruturadas, e diário de campo. Após a assinatura dos termos de consentimento livre e esclarecido, as entrevistas foram gravadas com sete idosos voluntários na cidade de Franca – SP. Para preservar a identidade dos participantes, todos os nomes utilizados neste artigo são fictícios. O projeto de pesquisa foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa do Centro Universitário de Franca (protocolo 035/2009). Resultados: a partir das análises das entrevistas, emergiram três RS acerca da velhice, nas quais a saúde constituiu-se em eixo de discussão: (1) A vida silenciando: uma velhice estigmatizada, em que a saúde é marcada por declínios nas capacidades físicas e mentais; (2) A Nova identidade: uma velhice ativa em que a saúde é aquilo que dá liberdade e independência; (3) Um Processo natural: a velhice é uma etapa esperada, e a saúde é o bem-estar espiritual. Conclusões: tais resultados demonstram que as RS da velhice estão associadas à atual ressignificação da saúde; a um conceito positivo de saúde; e à responsabilização individual pela saúde, a qual se associa à reprivatização do envelhecimento. Descritores: envelhecimento; saúde; representações sociais; contemporaneidade. RESUMEN Objetivo: comprender las representaciones sociales de las personas mayores sobre el envejecimiento y las experiencias relacionadas con la salud implicada en este proceso. Metodología: se utilizó una metodología cualitativa, la recolección de datos fue realizada por medio de la observación participante, entrevistas semi-estructuradas y diario de campo. Las entrevistas fueron grabadas, firmados los términos del consentimiento libre e informado, con siete voluntarios de la ciudad de Franca – São Paulo, Brasil. El estudio fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética en Investigación de la Uni-FACEF. Resultados: a partir del análisis de las entrevistas, reveló tres representaciones sociales sobre la vejez, donde la salud se constituyó en un eje de discusión: (1) La vida silenciando: una vejez estigmatizada, donde la salud se caracteriza por la disminución de la capacidad física y mental, (2) La nueva identidad: una vejez activa, donde la salud es lo que concede libertad e independencia, (3) Un proceso natural: el envejecimiento es un paso esperado y la salud es el bienestar espiritual.  Conclusiones: Estos resultados demuestran que las representaciones sociales de la edad están asociadas con la actual resignificación de la salud; con un concepto positivo de la salud, que se asocia con la reprivatización del envejecimiento. Descriptores: Envejecimiento; salud; representaciones sociales; contemporaneidad.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 44-59
Author(s):  
Helena Serra

The aim of this paper is to analyze the medical decision-making process in the admission of patients into a Liver Transplant Program in a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. The relationships and main strategies established among the medical specializations involved in this process will be investigated. The theoretical basis was drawn from medical sociology, in particular, from the social constructivist approaches, which highlight the relation between medical power and knowledge in the construction of medical decision-making. I attempt to elucidate the processes of negotiation through which a medical decision is constructed. The research methodology included non-participant observation and semi-structured interviews with participants from the two medical specializations of interest: liver surgeons and hepatologists. The management of risk and uncertainty in relation to patients’ access to liver transplantation is discussed and the strategic alliances that are formed during medical decision-making in search of consensus are investigated. The research findings show that medical practices and knowledge do not converge linearly to produce a coherent network of actions with a view to decision-making. Instead, medical decision-making is constructed through complex processes of negotiation. The different natures and levels of uncertainty and indetermination that are inherent in the social world of medicine have a fundamental influence on medical decision-making.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1622
Author(s):  
Camila Fagundes ◽  
Dusan Schreiber ◽  
Moema Pereira Nunes ◽  
Maria Eduarda Fernandes

Concern with the adequate use of natural resources has increased the relevance of products certifications in the wood supply chain, especially in companies established in Brazil, the cradle of one of the largest forest reserves. This study investigates the perception of companies on the potential and concrete benefits resulting from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. To achieve this, a multiple case study was carried out with data triangulation through semi-structured interviews, documentary research and non-participant observation. Four FSC certified industries established in Brazil were analyzed. The results showed that of the four companies participating in the study, only one did not achieve the desired economic benefits, whereas all organizations accomplished the advantages of the other areas of sustainability, both the social and environmental.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicja Pawluczuk ◽  
Gemma Webster ◽  
Colin Smith ◽  
Hazel Hall

Digital youth work is an emerging field of research and practice which seeks to investigate and support youth-centred digital literacy initiatives. Whilst digital youth work projects have become prominent in Europe in recent years, it has also become increasingly difficult to examine, capture, and understand their social impact. Currently, there is limited understanding of and research on how to measure the social impact of collaborative digital literacy youth projects. This article presents empirical research which explores the ways digital youth workers perceive and evaluate the social impact of their work. Twenty semi-structured interviews were carried out in Scotland, United Kingdom, in 2017. All data were coded in NVivo 10 and analysed using thematic data analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Two problems were identified in this study: (1) limited critical engagement with the social impact evaluation process of digital youth work projects and its outcomes, and (2) lack of consistent definition of the evaluation process to measure the social impact/value of digital youth work. Results of the study are examined within a wider scholarly discourse on the evaluation of youth digital participation, digital literacy, and social impact. It is argued that to progressively work towards a deeper understanding of the social value (positive and negative) of digital youth engagement and their digital literacy needs, further research and youth worker evaluation training are required. Recommendations towards these future changes in practice are also addressed.


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