What we understand about the world is determined by what the world is, who we are, and how we conduct our inquiries. Action research privileges the question "why are things as they are?" This article explores how neoliberalism, with its key principle that competition is the defining characteristic of human relations, reshapes our work as…

As cross-country comparisons of education systems have become increasingly important for policy-making, different structural arrangements have attracted attention in the pursuit of equity and excellence. One area of interest has been instructional time in formal schooling. Missing in such comparisons is the role instruction outside of…

The purpose of this study was to describe and explain Japanese elementary teacher development experiences in teaching physical education (PE). Participants were eight elementary classroom teachers (six males and two females) (within their first five years of teaching) teaching PE for the first time in Japanese elementary schools. Data sources…

In general, cycling is a sport and recreational activity with far fewer women than men, particularly in racing. The purpose of this mixed methods investigation was to identify experiences that affect participation for women and gender diverse (WGD) athletes in competitive cycling. Findings suggest WGD cyclists are likely to continue competing when…

The purpose of this study was to determine the male-female ratio of band directors serving on adjudication panels for Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) concert and sight reading evaluations from 2010-2019. The Texas Music Forms database was used to access a list of UIL band concert and sight reading adjudicators from across the state…

We must point out that the results of football games affect the competitive balance degree. In other words, the calculations we made in the score table at the end of the season give us a degree of competitive balance. The degree on which the concept of competitiveness is based is cited as competitive balance in football. Sports economics can be…

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between 60m sprint results and reaction times in athletes who took part in the World Indoor Athletics Championships. The reaction times and 60m sprint results were compiled for 483 sprinters (253 male, 230 female) who performed 60m sprint event. Corresponding data were obtained from…

In this article, I describe the process and importance of branding a graduate public administration program. Written from the perspective of a participant-observer, I describe how with the assistance of my department we have given our program a more distinctive identity and therefore a more identifiable brand. That brand is one that focuses on…

This study aimed to evaluate the mediation role of resilience on the link between self-efficacy and competitiveness among university students in Malaysia. One hundred and thirty-six participants from several universities in Malaysia were recruited to respond to an online form consisted of the following scales: adapted versions of brief resilience…

Competition often reveals the ugly side of being human. Many athletes seek glory through competition and their competitive behaviors often reflect prideful and dishonorable intentions. Educators should view sport as a context in which valuable lessons for life may be taught. The truly satisfying athletic experience is not achieved through victory…

The purpose of this quantitative comparative research study was to investigate issues that might contribute to stress levels of intercollegiate head swimming coaches working at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institutions. The Coaching Issues Survey (CIS), a tool to measure specific, potential stressors experienced by…

Within intercollegiate athletics, there is continued pressure for academic institutions to keep academics a priority over athletics. Revenue sharing and increased television contracts have created more variables within an athletic strain theory. The problem is that schools focus more attention and revenue toward on-field success than academic…

Nowadays, mathematics education providing challenging, interesting, interactive and technology-oriented learning experiences to students attracts attention both in research and practice. Among those experiences, competitions, due to their role of integrating the interest and desire of students to compete in education, challenging their potentials…

The present study draws upon Conceptual Metaphor Theory, its findings revealing the core concepts of the current education system in Thailand. The data is gathered from fourteen handbooks concerning quality assurance in education published on the website of the Bureau of Higher Education Standards and Evaluation, Office of the Higher Education…

We analyze a natural experiment in which policymakers in Pennsylvania first implemented, and later removed, reimbursements to districts for students exiting to brick and mortar and cyber charter schools. Generalized difference-in-difference models show that larger shares of students enrolling in charter schools predict decrements in spending,…