The Capability Approach as a Conceptual Bridge for Theory-Practice in Sport-for-Development

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of leveraging both normative and empirical concepts in order to highlight and interrogate the bridge between theory and practice in sport-for-development. Herein, we explore the potential of the Capability Approach (CA) as a guide to both research and practice in sport-for-development (SfD). The CA is emerging in the sport-for-development literature as a potentially instructive framework and the literature continues the push to critically examine its value in theorizing and implementing SfD projects. To situate the CA into SfD, we explore the importance of engaging with each 'moment' located within the structure of development theory-practice and employ the CA in order to do so. The literature has shown that the CA might have a role to play in guiding both normative and empirical aspects of assessment in sport-for-development practice. The authors draw on ethnographic data from research with a SfD project in Vietnam to consider the potential of the CA to guide both research and management in the paradigm of SfD and human development. The paper concludes by outlining the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities within the CA, contributing to a more complete engagement with the potential for bridging theory to practice.

容量法作为体育促进社会发展理论与实践的概念桥

该论文的目的, 是要说明利用规范概念和经验概念影响力的潜能, 以突出和审查体育促进社会发展中理论与实践间的纽带作用。在此, 我们探讨了能力方法的潜力 (CA) 作为体育促进社会发展的研究和实践的指南。容量法作为潜在性指导框架出现在体育促进社会发展的文献中, 并且该文献仍在对体育促进社会发展的理论化发挥着重要的价值审核作用。为了将容量法应用于体育促进社会发展之中, 我们将探索与克罗克理论——实践框架的每一点建立联系的重要性, 并且为此而应用容量法。文献表明, 容量法可能在指导体育促进社会发展实践评估的理论和实践层面都发挥着作用。作者团队引用了越南的一个SfD计划中的人种学数据, 以斟酌容量法潜能对SfD和人类发展范例的研究与管理的指导意义。该文结论的得出, 基于突出容量法的优势、弱势和它带来的机遇。该文能够促进与联结理论与实践之潜能产生更全面的联系。

Keywords:

• Sport for development
• central capabilities
• moments
• Vietnam
• theory-practice

关键词:

• 体育促进发展；核心能力、契机、越南、理论——实践

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their insightful critiques, comments and guidance in strengthening the outcome of this paper.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Dao

Michael Dao (Ph.D., San Jose State University, U.S.) is an assistant professor in the department of Kinesiology at San Jose State University. His research is rooted in the historical, social, and cultural intersections that affect Sport for Development in Southeast Asia.

Tavis Smith

Tavis Smith (Ph.D. Candidate, University of Toronto, Canada) is a doctoral candidate in the Graduate Department of Exercise Sciences at the University of Toronto. His research is primarily focused on sport, wellbeing, and social and environmental sustainability in a variety of social and cultural contexts.