Mitchell Mcsweeney
Biographic Data
| ID | 266559 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Mitchell Mcsweeney |
| GIVEN NAMES | Mitchell |
| FAMILY NAME | Mcsweeney |
| SIGNATURE | MCSWEENEY M |
| AFFILIATIONS | York University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-8833-7633 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 14 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 23 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 14 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2017 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Country profile: Sport in Nigeria and the 2020 National Sport Industry Policy
Nigeria is an ethnically diverse nation regarded as the ‘giant of Africa’ which boasts one of the largest youth populations in the world and a rich sport history. Nigeria operates a complex sport system across its three levels of government (federal, state, and local). There remains a dearth of literature on Nigerian sport policy and analysis with available inquiries exploring the now phased out 2009 National Sport Policy (NSP). The formulation o…
Building an organizational culture for critical pedagogy in sport-for-development to challenge elitist sport in Brazil: The case of Instituto Fazer Acontecer
Many sport-for-development and peace (SDP) organizations involve the use of pedagogical practices to achieve social aims, including educational outcomes. However, there have been consistent critiques of SDP organizations utilizing didactic pedagogical approaches combined with pre-packaged curriculum – sometimes developed by Global North actors – for implementation of programs. In more recent years, several studies have illustrated the importance …
Co-creating knowledge on bicycling: A decolonial feminist participatory action research approach to arts-based methods
The colonising tendencies of Western research — in which Indigenous and racialised bodies are deliberately misrepresented — has justified the exploitation and violence towards these communities. Within the field of qualitative sport research, there is a need for research methodologies that relinquish power from the researcher, into the hands of the research communities . This paper aims to demonstrate the utility of a decolonial feminist particip…
Constructing Diaspora Space and Consciousness Through Sport and Livelihoods in Kampala, Uganda
Applying the concept of diaspora, this paper examines an organization in Kampala, Uganda that utilizes sport to foster cultural belonging and increase livelihood opportunities for refugees. A participatory action research approach was implemented with multiple forms of data collection including semistructured interviews, photovoice, and photocollaging. Findings highlight how sport and livelihoods are used by refugees to resist exclusion and other…
Conducting collaborative research across global North-South contexts: Benefits, challenges and implications of working with visual and digital participatory research approaches
There are a variety of important methodological considerations for collaborations between global North researchers and local community-based researchers undertaking empirical investigation in the field of sport for development and peace (SDP) in the global South. To explore these, we outline the participatory action research methodology adopted in this study and the use of visual and digital methods to explore the use of bicycles to achieve inter…
Bicycles and the Potential of Unstructured Sport for Development and Peace
Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) continues to grow, both in research and practice. Recently, researchers have considered the merits of unstructured sport as a way of realizing sport's benefits while circumnavigating its perceived problematic elements. This article reports findings from research on 'Bicycles for Development' (BFD) – a movement that trades on bicycle access as a way of achieving development objectives. We draw from interviews …
Bicycles are really important for women!’ Exploring bicycles, gender and development in Nicaragua and Uganda
This article explores ‘bicycles for development’ (BFD) – a ‘movement’ that positions the bicycle as a tool to promote key development goals, especially those related to the achievement of gender equality. Despite the increasing growth and prominence of BFD, there remains limited empirical research that investigates the intersections among gender, development, mobility and technologies such as the bicycle. Using visual participatory action researc…
An Exploration of Safe Space: From a Youth Bicycle Program to the Road
Safe space—a physical and psychosocial space cultivated through social relations—can be vital for youth programs and community development. This paper analyzes youth participants’ experiences in a Canadian bicycle program. The authors suggest that the program can be seen as a form of “Sport for Development,” and specifically what the authors term “Bicycles for Development”—as the bicycle is considered as a possible catalyst for development. Using…
The bike breaks down. What are they going to do?' Actor-networks and the Bicycles for Development movement
This article reports on an empirical study of 'Bicycles for Development' (BFD) - a nascent movement whereby used bicycles are collected (often in the global North) and distributed in development contexts (often in the global South) with the aim of achieving a range of positive social outcomes (e.g. access to education). Drawing from interviews ( n = 32) with participants from 19 BFD organizations, and informed by actor-network theory (ANT), the a…
Returning the 'social' to social entrepreneurship: Future possibilities of critically exploring sport for development and peace and social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship is a nascent concept within academia that is increasing in scholarly attention and practice, especially within the study of sport. A recent article has reviewed the concept of social entrepreneurship (SE) and sport and offered suggestions for future studies. Building on this article, I suggest that there is a need for critical, sociological explorations of sport and SE, most especially for scholars within the field of spor…
Leaving the comfort zone: Utilizing institutional ethnography in sport for development and peace research
This paper examines the promise of institutional ethnography (IE) as a methodological and theoretical approach in sport for development research. Dorothy Smith, a feminist sociologist, developed IE as an alternative method of inquiry to the dominant forms practised in sociology. Research that utilizes IE is particularly focused on the underpinning processes involved in establishing ruling relations and the role of text in organizing work, and off…
The “diaspora” diaspora in sport? A systematic literature review of empirical studies
The study and application of the concept of diaspora has grown from its original references to a particular group to encapsulate any individual or group living in a collective community. In the sociological study of sport, diaspora is applied in innovative but potentially problematic ways insofar as the concept of “diaspora” may lose its conceptual and theoretical roots. Given this – as well as the call for greater scholarly examination of diaspo…
Reflexive Accounts of a Postcolonial Ethnographer: Understanding Insider-Outsider Status
In studies within the sport for development (SFD) field, critical researchers often recognize that they are an intimate part of the production of knowledge. In particular, researchers adopting a postcolonial lens, and acting as an ethnographer, must consider the multiple “screens” they bring to a research setting, such as gender, sexuality, race, and class (Berger, 2015). In this paper, I discuss my own role as an intern-researcher, insider-outsi…
I Text English to Everyone: Links between Second-Language Texting and Academic Proficiency
This article reports on research investigating the relationship between text messaging and academic literacy among Spanish-dominant emergent bilingual young adults in New York City (acquiring English). Through assessments of academic language and analysis of a corpus of 44,597 text messages, this study found that emergent bilinguals who send more messages in English and choose English for the settings on their mobile phones tend to have higher ac…
Returning the 'social' to social entrepreneurship: Future possibilities of critically exploring sport for development and peace and social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship is a nascent concept within academia that is increasing in scholarly attention and practice, especially within the study of sport. A recent article has reviewed the concept of social entrepreneurship (SE) and sport and offered suggestions for future studies. Building on this article, I suggest that there is a need for critical, sociological explorations of sport and SE, most especially for scholars within the field of spor…
The bike breaks down. What are they going to do?' Actor-networks and the Bicycles for Development movement
This article reports on an empirical study of 'Bicycles for Development' (BFD) - a nascent movement whereby used bicycles are collected (often in the global North) and distributed in development contexts (often in the global South) with the aim of achieving a range of positive social outcomes (e.g. access to education). Drawing from interviews ( n = 32) with participants from 19 BFD organizations, and informed by actor-network theory (ANT), the a…
The “diaspora” diaspora in sport? A systematic literature review of empirical studies
The study and application of the concept of diaspora has grown from its original references to a particular group to encapsulate any individual or group living in a collective community. In the sociological study of sport, diaspora is applied in innovative but potentially problematic ways insofar as the concept of “diaspora” may lose its conceptual and theoretical roots. Given this – as well as the call for greater scholarly examination of diaspo…
Bicycles and the Potential of Unstructured Sport for Development and Peace
Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) continues to grow, both in research and practice. Recently, researchers have considered the merits of unstructured sport as a way of realizing sport's benefits while circumnavigating its perceived problematic elements. This article reports findings from research on 'Bicycles for Development' (BFD) – a movement that trades on bicycle access as a way of achieving development objectives. We draw from interviews …
Bicycles are really important for women!’ Exploring bicycles, gender and development in Nicaragua and Uganda
This article explores ‘bicycles for development’ (BFD) – a ‘movement’ that positions the bicycle as a tool to promote key development goals, especially those related to the achievement of gender equality. Despite the increasing growth and prominence of BFD, there remains limited empirical research that investigates the intersections among gender, development, mobility and technologies such as the bicycle. Using visual participatory action researc…
I Text English to Everyone: Links between Second-Language Texting and Academic Proficiency
This article reports on research investigating the relationship between text messaging and academic literacy among Spanish-dominant emergent bilingual young adults in New York City (acquiring English). Through assessments of academic language and analysis of a corpus of 44,597 text messages, this study found that emergent bilinguals who send more messages in English and choose English for the settings on their mobile phones tend to have higher ac…
An Exploration of Safe Space: From a Youth Bicycle Program to the Road
Safe space—a physical and psychosocial space cultivated through social relations—can be vital for youth programs and community development. This paper analyzes youth participants’ experiences in a Canadian bicycle program. The authors suggest that the program can be seen as a form of “Sport for Development,” and specifically what the authors term “Bicycles for Development”—as the bicycle is considered as a possible catalyst for development. Using…
Reflexive Accounts of a Postcolonial Ethnographer: Understanding Insider-Outsider Status
In studies within the sport for development (SFD) field, critical researchers often recognize that they are an intimate part of the production of knowledge. In particular, researchers adopting a postcolonial lens, and acting as an ethnographer, must consider the multiple “screens” they bring to a research setting, such as gender, sexuality, race, and class (Berger, 2015). In this paper, I discuss my own role as an intern-researcher, insider-outsi…
I Text English to Everyone: Links between Second-Language Texting and Academic Proficiency
This article reports on research investigating the relationship between text messaging and academic literacy among Spanish-dominant emergent bilingual young adults in New York City (acquiring English). Through assessments of academic language and analysis of a corpus of 44,597 text messages, this study found that emergent bilinguals who send more messages in English and choose English for the settings on their mobile phones tend to have higher ac…
Reflexive Accounts of a Postcolonial Ethnographer: Understanding Insider-Outsider Status
In studies within the sport for development (SFD) field, critical researchers often recognize that they are an intimate part of the production of knowledge. In particular, researchers adopting a postcolonial lens, and acting as an ethnographer, must consider the multiple “screens” they bring to a research setting, such as gender, sexuality, race, and class (Berger, 2015). In this paper, I discuss my own role as an intern-researcher, insider-outsi…
Leaving the comfort zone: Utilizing institutional ethnography in sport for development and peace research
This paper examines the promise of institutional ethnography (IE) as a methodological and theoretical approach in sport for development research. Dorothy Smith, a feminist sociologist, developed IE as an alternative method of inquiry to the dominant forms practised in sociology. Research that utilizes IE is particularly focused on the underpinning processes involved in establishing ruling relations and the role of text in organizing work, and off…
The “diaspora” diaspora in sport? A systematic literature review of empirical studies
The study and application of the concept of diaspora has grown from its original references to a particular group to encapsulate any individual or group living in a collective community. In the sociological study of sport, diaspora is applied in innovative but potentially problematic ways insofar as the concept of “diaspora” may lose its conceptual and theoretical roots. Given this – as well as the call for greater scholarly examination of diaspo…
Returning the 'social' to social entrepreneurship: Future possibilities of critically exploring sport for development and peace and social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship is a nascent concept within academia that is increasing in scholarly attention and practice, especially within the study of sport. A recent article has reviewed the concept of social entrepreneurship (SE) and sport and offered suggestions for future studies. Building on this article, I suggest that there is a need for critical, sociological explorations of sport and SE, most especially for scholars within the field of spor…
An Exploration of Safe Space: From a Youth Bicycle Program to the Road
Safe space—a physical and psychosocial space cultivated through social relations—can be vital for youth programs and community development. This paper analyzes youth participants’ experiences in a Canadian bicycle program. The authors suggest that the program can be seen as a form of “Sport for Development,” and specifically what the authors term “Bicycles for Development”—as the bicycle is considered as a possible catalyst for development. Using…
The bike breaks down. What are they going to do?' Actor-networks and the Bicycles for Development movement
This article reports on an empirical study of 'Bicycles for Development' (BFD) - a nascent movement whereby used bicycles are collected (often in the global North) and distributed in development contexts (often in the global South) with the aim of achieving a range of positive social outcomes (e.g. access to education). Drawing from interviews ( n = 32) with participants from 19 BFD organizations, and informed by actor-network theory (ANT), the a…
Bicycles are really important for women!’ Exploring bicycles, gender and development in Nicaragua and Uganda
This article explores ‘bicycles for development’ (BFD) – a ‘movement’ that positions the bicycle as a tool to promote key development goals, especially those related to the achievement of gender equality. Despite the increasing growth and prominence of BFD, there remains limited empirical research that investigates the intersections among gender, development, mobility and technologies such as the bicycle. Using visual participatory action researc…
Conducting collaborative research across global North-South contexts: Benefits, challenges and implications of working with visual and digital participatory research approaches
There are a variety of important methodological considerations for collaborations between global North researchers and local community-based researchers undertaking empirical investigation in the field of sport for development and peace (SDP) in the global South. To explore these, we outline the participatory action research methodology adopted in this study and the use of visual and digital methods to explore the use of bicycles to achieve inter…
Bicycles and the Potential of Unstructured Sport for Development and Peace
Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) continues to grow, both in research and practice. Recently, researchers have considered the merits of unstructured sport as a way of realizing sport's benefits while circumnavigating its perceived problematic elements. This article reports findings from research on 'Bicycles for Development' (BFD) – a movement that trades on bicycle access as a way of achieving development objectives. We draw from interviews …
Co-creating knowledge on bicycling: A decolonial feminist participatory action research approach to arts-based methods
The colonising tendencies of Western research — in which Indigenous and racialised bodies are deliberately misrepresented — has justified the exploitation and violence towards these communities. Within the field of qualitative sport research, there is a need for research methodologies that relinquish power from the researcher, into the hands of the research communities . This paper aims to demonstrate the utility of a decolonial feminist particip…
Constructing Diaspora Space and Consciousness Through Sport and Livelihoods in Kampala, Uganda
Applying the concept of diaspora, this paper examines an organization in Kampala, Uganda that utilizes sport to foster cultural belonging and increase livelihood opportunities for refugees. A participatory action research approach was implemented with multiple forms of data collection including semistructured interviews, photovoice, and photocollaging. Findings highlight how sport and livelihoods are used by refugees to resist exclusion and other…
Country profile: Sport in Nigeria and the 2020 National Sport Industry Policy
Nigeria is an ethnically diverse nation regarded as the ‘giant of Africa’ which boasts one of the largest youth populations in the world and a rich sport history. Nigeria operates a complex sport system across its three levels of government (federal, state, and local). There remains a dearth of literature on Nigerian sport policy and analysis with available inquiries exploring the now phased out 2009 National Sport Policy (NSP). The formulation o…
Building an organizational culture for critical pedagogy in sport-for-development to challenge elitist sport in Brazil: The case of Instituto Fazer Acontecer
Many sport-for-development and peace (SDP) organizations involve the use of pedagogical practices to achieve social aims, including educational outcomes. However, there have been consistent critiques of SDP organizations utilizing didactic pedagogical approaches combined with pre-packaged curriculum – sometimes developed by Global North actors – for implementation of programs. In more recent years, several studies have illustrated the importance …
Sport and Mega-Event Impacts (12 works) · Sociology (11 works) · Physical Education and Pedagogy (8 works) · Political science (8 works) · Sports, Gender, and Society (8 works) · Gender Studies (5 works) · Social science (5 works) · Citizen journalism (4 works) · Computer Science (4 works) · Gender Studies (4 works)