Sport education researcher honoured in special journal
Dr Dennis Slade, a senior lecturer from Massey University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, has been given the
extremely rare and prestigious endorsement of his research in physical education and sport, through a special supplement
publication of his research.
This is the first time in the 65-year history of the New Zealand Physical Educator journal that a special supplement has been published, with all the articles written by the same first author.
The articles come from Dr Slade’s PhD thesis, where he investigated the development of game-centred learning models in
physical education and sport coaching practice in New Zealand from 1945-2015.
“Like so many before me, the work in my PhD moved from a single form of research methodology, autoethnography [a form of
qualitative research in which the author uses self-reflection], to incorporate a multi method approach,” he says.
“This allowed me to present ‘truth of the matter’ plausibility to my observations through the triangulation of archival
documents, literature and conversations with significant people that provided a compelling analytical focus to the
research. This research resulted in a chapter within the PhD with a very strong historical perspective,” Dr Slade says.
It is from this chapter that the subsequent articles have been written that are presented in the special supplement
published by the New Zealand Physical Educator journal.
Dr Slade says part of the motivation for the journal to publish the special supplement comes from a comment from peer
review of the articles. “It was noted that the articles, while providing general interest to those who teach and will
teach PE in New Zealand, are also a particularly rich source of referenced data for anyone in the future undertaking
research on this or related aspects of physical education and sport coaching in New Zealand.”
The journal editor was keen to enhance the publication with some historical images of PE in New Zealand and Dr Slade
gained permission to publish such images from the Palmerston North City Library site Manawatū Heritage that show PE activities within a historical context in two local schools.
Dr Slade also notes the contribution and direction of his two PhD supervisors, Professor Andy Martin from the School of
Sport, Exercise and Nutrition and Dr Geoff Watson from the School of Humanities, who are co-authors on each of the
articles.
“I have been extremely fortunate in having Andy and Geoff to supervise my work and also to contribute significantly to
this major publication. They not only bring a strong critical edge to the work but also support in terms of motivation
and ensuring that this type of contribution to new knowledge does get published.”
Professor Martin says, “Dr Slade’s contribution nationally and internationally as an interpreter of theory into practice
in sport and PE is well established, but this special supplement will also be a marker in terms of a national research
contribution to physical education in New Zealand and will eventually be noted as part of his legacy to this subject.”
Read the special supplement in the New Zealand Physical Educator journal ‘The Evolving Development of Teaching and Coaching Games and Sports in New Zealand’ here.