Doctoral programme "Problem-oriented Sport Science"

The (still young) sport science is one of the subjects that gain their self-image to a large extent from their object orientation. For this reason, phenomena that can be observed in the social subsystem of sport form the starting point for sport science research. The associated research problems are often so complex that an interdisciplinary approach is required. In contrast, sport science is still confronted with science policy requirements that are more likely to be met by disciplinary approaches and an orientation towards the respective parent discipline (e.g. sport psychology → psychology). The chance of acceptance in the scientific community and thus the chance of successful third-party funding acquisition and well-placed publications seems to be more lucrative with a closer orientation towards an established maternal science. At the same time, however, there is the danger that a narrow orientation towards maternal science will cause the subject of sport science to disappear from view. A science whose basic concern was "a better sport" (Ommo Grupe) could thus become a relatively unconnected collection of sub-disciplines whose orientation towards the subject area of sport is increasingly losing importance. This would mean, as it were, that the social impact of sport science would decline.

With the doctoral programme "Problem-oriented Sport Science", the participating institutions plan to continue and expand a programme that aims to achieve both a high scientific and a high social impact. The prerequisite for a high scientific impact is a high-quality theoretical and methodological foundation for the research work. The social impact is to be achieved by orienting the research work to the "supremacy of phenomena" (Magnusson, 1992) and thus to concrete phenomena and problems of sport, which is associated with the opportunity to achieve research results that can contribute to the solution of problems from the practice of sport.

The programme is intended to generate added value for doctoral students at various levels:

• Improved supervision by several tutors from different institutions and from different sport science sub-disciplines;
• opportunity of networking with other doctoral students and with international experts;
• stimulating problem-oriented and interdisciplinary thinking and interdisciplinary cooperation;
• increasing the visibility of doctoral degrees;
• sensitisation to ethical and science-theoretical questions of a problem-oriented and interdisciplinary sport science.

The considerations on interdisciplinarity and problem orientation form the research paradigmatic framework and are to be deepened in superordinate colloquia. In addition, monothematic or monodisciplinary colloquia are to be offered, in view of Heckhausen's demand, formulated in 1987, that scientific knowledge in the narrow sense can only be gained in a disciplinary manner, without, however, completely dispensing with interdisciplinary exchange.

The programme consists of different types of colloquia:

Interdisciplinary 3-day Summer School, which is held annually. This event is mandatory for all members of the doctoral programme. Three different contents are planned:

• Interdisciplinary foundations of an interdisciplinary sport science (e.g. problem/application orientation, social responsibility, - interdisciplinarity, research ethics and science theory topics);
• thematically (e.g., talent research, empirical school sports research, organizational development) and/or disciplinarily (e.g., sport sociology, sport psychology, sport medicine) more narrowly focused workshops in which, among other things, individual dissertation projects are discussed;
• special interest groups, which are self-directed sessions that offer a concrete opportunity for networking and exchange in order to specifically adapt the content of the Summer School to the needs of the doctoral students.

2-day (subject- or topic-) specific satellite workshops, in each of which a part of the students of the doctoral programme will participate.

The Summer School will be supervised by the professors of the participating institutions, the workshops will be supervised by about 2 persons from this circle. In addition, the doctoral students in the Summer Schools are usually supported by 3 external experts who act as speakers and tutors.

Current funding period

Satellite workshops

• Report (in German) of the satellite workshop of the department of Sport Pedagogy in Berne 2025
• Report (in German) of the satellite workshop of the department of Movement and Exercise Science in Berne 2025
• Report of the satellite workshop of the department of Sport Sociology and Management in Schwäbisch-Gmünd 2025

The Summer School planned for 2020 has been cancelled due to the Corona pandemic.

Doctoral students who are supervised by a habilitated member of the participating institutes are eligible to participate.

If you are interested in a doctoral programme at the Institute of Sport Science, please contact the relevant professor directly.

Further information on the doctoral programme can be obtained from the Director of content, Prof. Dr. Mirko Schmidt, or the co-ordinator of the doctoral programme, Moritz Engel.