Vom erwartbaren Erkenntnispotenzial der Auftragsforschung zu Sportvereinen

Abstract

Sports club research has a long tradition in Germany and has produced a considerable variety of methodological approaches and theoretical as well as empirical knowledge. This article provides an epistemologically oriented determination and reflection of the potential of knowledge of current sports club research against the background of the tender objectives of the sports development report on waves 7 to 9 (SEB 3.0). It becomes clear that in conflict between normatively charged goals of the SEB—defined by the public client (principal)—non-judgmental, theory-guided and theory-based empirical sports club research is hardly possible. This means that it is rather difficult to carry out sports club research that is based on current research and is also able to generate new and reliable scientific knowledge. Therefore, a clearer differentiation is recommended between knowledge-guided research and normatively broken objectives aimed at policy advice. In dealing with these issues, methodological and methodological strategies are proposed to achieve the goals of SEB 3.0. At the same time, the chance of generating additional theoretical and empirical knowledge on the subject of “sports club” is increased.