Paradigms, exemplars and social change

Abstract

Researchers’ social-cultural organization influences the scope, quality, quantity, coherence, dissemination, utilization and impact of research-based, theoretically sound knowledge. Five concepts—paradigm, exemplar, segment, network and gatekeeper—are salient to research on researchers’ organization.

Autobiographical reflections signal these concepts’ salience to knowledge generation, school program designs and researchers’ career patterns. These reflections also indicate the selectivity and potential limitations of conventional paradigms.

Rapid, dramatic social change compels strategic searches, which are prerequisite to ‘re-search.’ After all, today's physical education programs, like the schools that harbor them, are industrial age institutions. These institutions are out-of-step with contemporary realities. A new century search, research and development agenda directed toward physical education's reformation and transformation may begin with selected design criteria. These criteria and this larger agenda necessitate new paradigms, exemplars, segments and networks.

Keywords:

• Physical education research
• Physical education programs
• Physical education policy

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to John Evans and two anonymous reviewers for their criticism and suggestions. Additionally, I am grateful to colleagues in the School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland (Australia) for their assistance and supports as I wrote this paper during my recent residency as a visiting international scholar.