Some Not So New Arguments in Support of Heterodox Agendas in the Study of Sport

A review of four papers presented at the 1988 annual meeting of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport published in this journal (see related abstracts in this section of SA 39:3), attempting to situate their perspectives within the changing field of sociology. Conflicts between conventional sociologists & those who support heterodox agendas are addressed, citing Anthony Giddens (Studies in Social & Political Theory, London: Hutchinson, 1977), who described the former as having agendas anchored in positivism, functionalism, & a theory of modernization qua industrial society. North American sports studies employing the heterodox agenda are reviewed, & questions why it is still subject to accusations by mainstream sociologists that it is more ideological than scientific are discussed. 29 References. Adapted from the source document.