The Physical Education, Sport and Leisure Studies network aims at presenting new educational research and work in progress within the field of physical education, sport, outdoor recreation (friluftsliv), leisure culture, body and movement and more. A broad term that might be used when designating the area of interest for the network is body movement culture (kroppsövningskultur).

The Nordic context, with its specific relations between physical education in school and the leisure time sports movement, between physical education, sport and outdoor recreation, and between adult elite sport and sport for children and young people, are important frames for understanding cultures in physical activities and movement in this network. It is however not a prerequisite that researchers deal with these issues when presenting research in the physical education, sport and leisure studies network. Of importance in the network are also educational dimensions on issues such as motor learning, embodied learning and aesthetic learning processes within the body movement culture.

Theoretically and methodologically the network embraces a range of theories and methods of relevance for the study of the body movement culture. This includes, for instance, philosophical, historical, educational, sociological, psychological, neuro-physiological and biomechanical theories that can inform educational perspectives on body movement and the body movement culture. Further it includes a range of methods such as questionnaires, interviews, observations, ethnographic work, video analysis, text analysis, biographical work and more.

The network seeks to encourage researchers to present both conducted research and ideas for future research (including starting points for such research). Of interest are thus theoretical and methodological considerations both with work in progress and as a meta-perspective on completed research, and results and conclusions from completed research and meta-perspectives on educational research within the scope of this network.

Because of the wide scope of the network, researchers are encouraged to contact the network coordinator with ideas for thematic paper sessions or symposia over a certain issue. Researchers within the field of physical education, sport and leisure studies are also encouraged themselves to contact fellow researchers with similar interests to form thematic sessions or symposia.

(updated September 1, 2008)