Staff profile

staff list  BackProf Mike Weed

  • Job title: Professor of Sport in Society
  • Dept: Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure
  • Tel: 01227 782743
  • Campus: Canterbury
Mike Weed

Biography

Professor Mike Weed, BSc (Loughborough), PGDip (North London), PhD (Kent), graduated in Recreation Management from Loughborough University in 1994 and subsequently registered for his PhD at Canterbury Christ Church College. In 1997 he moved to the University of North London as a Lecturer in Sports Management, becoming Director of the Research in Sports Culture (RiSC) group in 2000. From 2001 to 2006 he worked in the School of Sport & Exercise Sciences at Loughborough University. He returned to Canterbury Christ Church University in September 2006 as Professor of Sport in Society and Director of Research in Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure. Professor Weed is also Director of SPEAR (the Centre for Sport, Physical Education & Activity Research).

Research Interests

Professor Weed's substantive interests lie in the development of sports tourism research, whilst he is also interested in the development of methods of research synthesis and the epistemology of qualitative research. In addition, Professor Weed has undertaken a range of consultancy projects related to football development.

Sports Tourism: Professor Weed is interested in all aspects of the relationship between sport and tourism, but in particular the motivations and behaviours of sports tourists and travelling sports spectators. He is Editor of the Journal of Sport & Tourism and of 'Sport & Tourism: A Reader' (Routledge, 2008) and his co-authored book with Dr Chris Bull (Elsevier, 2004) is an attempt to establish a clear theoretical foundation for the study of sports tourism. Aspects of grounded theory, ethnography and meso-level approaches to social science have informed much of his work in this area. More recently, Professor Weed has developed an interested in the implications of hosting the Olympic Games and has published 'Olympic Tourism' (Elsevier, 2008).

Research Synthesis: Professor Weed has developed the meta-interpretation approach for the interpretive synthesis of qualitative research and has Guest Edited the European Journal of Sport Science on Methods of Research Synthesis in the Sport Sciences and Psychology of Sport & Exercise on Research Quality in Sport & Exercise. He has developed propositions for the application of research synthesis in sport management, sport psychology, sport science and tourism research. Recent projects include a systematic review of voluntary sport provision for Sport England and, linking with his substantive research interests, a five year systematic review and meta-evaluation of sports tourism research and a systematic review of the evidence base to develop a health legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Football Development: Professor Weed has managed a number of projects related to youth football and the football development system. Much of this work, including two doctoral studies, has been funded by the Football Association.

Grants, Awards & Scholarships

  • £65 000 from the Football Association to conduct an evaluation of the implementation of the TOP Sport Football Programme in primary schools and the community. 
  • £39 000 from the Football Association to conduct an evaluation of the Charter Standard programme in clubs and schools. 
  • £27 000 from a Consortium of Regional Physical Activity Networks to conduct a systematic review of London 2012 to raise sport & physical activity participation. 
  • £25 000 from the Football Association to conduct an evaluation of the Club 3 Lions Out of School Hours football initiative. 
  • £20 000 from Coca-Cola to conduct an evaluation of the Coca-Cola Under 13's Cup and the Coke 7's in England and Scotland respectively. 
  • £18 000 from Active Canterbury to examine local implementation of sport and physical activity policy. 
  • £15 000 from the Economic & Social Research Council to investigate the Leveraging of Social, Cultural and Health Benefits from London 2012 in the Regions. 
  • £8 000 from Sport England to conduct a Systematic Review on the Role of Voluntary Sports Clubs. 
  • £7 000 from Kids Clubs Network to conduct an evaluation of the Moving the Goalposts programme in after-school clubs. 
  • £6 000 from the South East England Development Agency to examine the Leveraging of London 2012 in the South East. 
  • £4 000 from Canterbury City Council to examine Local Perceptions of the 2007 Tour De France

Appointments & Responsibilities

Professor Weed is Editor of the Journal of Sport & Tourism and sits on the Editorial Boards of The Qualitative Report and Qualitative Research in Sport & Exercise. He has been Guest Editor of special issues of European Sport Management Quarterly ("Sports Tourism Theory & Method", 5/3, 2005), European Journal of Sport Science ("Research Synthesis in the Sport & Exercise Sciences", 6/2, 2006) and Psychology of Sport & Exercise ("Research Quality in Sport & Exercise", 2008 forthcoming).

Professor Weed is external advisor to PhD programmes at Bournemouth University and Loughborough University and External Examiner for undergraduate programmes at Teesside University and London Metropolitan University. He has advised regional agencies throughout England on Olympic-related development. Professor Weed is Director of Research in the Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure and is Director of SPEAR (the Centre for Sport, Physical Education & Activity Research).

Teaching Responsibilities

  • Year 1: Making Sense of Sport – Sport, the Media & Society
  • Year 2: Research Methods
  • Year 3: Individual Study Co-ordinator

Selected Recent Publications

Books
  • Weed, M.E. (2008) Olympic Tourism. Oxford Elsevier.
  • Weed, M.E. (2008) Sport & Tourism: A Reader. London: Routledge.
  • Weed, M.E. and Bull, C.J. (2004) Sports Tourism: Participants, Policy and Providers. Oxford: Elsevier.
Refereed Journal Articles
  • Weed, M.E. (2008) 'A Potential Method for the Interpretive Synthesis of Qualitative Research: Issues in the Development of 'Meta-Interpretation'. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 11(1). 
  • Weed, M.E. (2008) 'Exploring the Sport Spectator Experience: Virtual Football Spectatorship'. Soccer & Society, 9(2). 
  • Smith, B.M. & Weed, M.E. (2007) 'The Potential of Narrative Research in Sports Tourism'. Journal of Sport & Tourism, 12(3/4). 
  • Weed, M.E. and Hagger, M.S. (2007) 'Research Synthesis in Sport and Exercise Psychology: Quantitative and Qualitative Issues'. Sport and Exercise Psychology Review, 3(1). 
  • Weed, M.E. (2007) 'The Pub as a Virtual Football Fandom Venue: An Alternative to Being There?'. Soccer & Society, 8(2). 
  • Weed, M.E. 'The Influence of Policy Makers Perceptions on Sport-Tourism Policy Development'. Tourism Review International, 9(3), 2006. 
  • Weed, M.E. (2006) 'Interpretive Qualitative Synthesis in the Sport and Exercise Sciences'. European Journal of Sport Science, 6(2). 
  • Weed, M.E. (2006) 'Olympic Tourism? The Tourism Potential of London 2012'. eReview of Tourism Research, 4(2). 
  • Weed, M.E. (2006) 'Sports Tourism Research 2000-2004: A Systematic Review of Knowledge and a Meta-Evaluation of Method'. Journal of Sport & Tourism, 11(1). 
  • Weed, M.E. (2006) 'The Story of an Ethnography: The Experience of Watching the 2002 World Cup in the Pub'. Soccer & Society, 7(1). 
  • Weed, M.E. (2005) 'Sports Tourism Theory & Method: Concepts, Issues & Epistemologies'. European Sport Management Quarterly, 5(3). 
  • Weed, M.E. (2005) 'A Grounded Theory of the Policy Process for Sport and Tourism'. Sport in Society, 8(2).
Book Chapters
  • Weed, M.E. & Jackson, G.A.M. (2008) 'The Relationship between Sport and Tourism'. In B. Houlihan (ed) Sport in Society. London: Sage. 
  • Weed, M.E. (2008) 'Virtual Football Fandom – Redefining the Sports Spectator Experience'. In S. Brown and B.Majumdar (eds). Football Fandoms. London: Routledge. 
  • Weed, M.E., (2006) 'Sport and Tourism'. In Beech, J. and Chadwick, S. (eds) The Business of Tourism Management. Harlow: Pearson.
Conference Presentations
  • Weed, M.E. (2008) 'Developing Sports Tourism: A Developing Country Perspective'. Keynote Paper to the 1st Commonwealth Sports Tourism Conference Keynote, Malaysia, May.
  • Weed, M.E. (2008) 'London 2012 Tourism Opportunities'. Keynote Paper to: Olympic Legacy: People, Place, Enterprise, Greenwich, May. 
  • Weed, M.E. (2007) 'Olympic Tourism Flows'. Keynote Paper to: Event Tourism: Enhancing Destinations and the Visitor Economy, Bournemouth, January. 
  • Weed, M.E. (2006) 'Sports Tourism Research: The State of the Field'. Keynote Paper at 9th International Sport Science Conference, Mugla, Turkey, November. 
  • Weed, M.E. (2006) 'Sports Tourism and the Development of Sports Events'. Keynote Paper at International City and Place Marketing Conference, Malmo, Sweden, September.
  • Weed, M.E. (2006) 'Sports Tourism Research Futures'. Invited Round Table at 14th Congress of the European Association of Sport Management, Nicosia, Cyprus, September. 
  • Weed, M.E. (2006) 'Sport, Tourism & Academic Renewal'. Keynote Plenary Panel at Annual Leisure Studies Association Conference, Bristol, July. 
  • Weed, M.E. (2006) 'Virtual Football Fandoms'. Invited Paper at SOAS World Cup Colloquium – 'Soccer: From England to the World, London, June. 
  • Weed, M.E. (2006) 'Understanding the Sports Tourism Product'. Invited Tourism Futures Lecture, hosted by Visit Scotland, Edinburgh, May. 
  • Weed, M.E. (2006) 'Sports Tourism, the Olympics & Sports Events'. Invited Paper at SportsBusiness Campus, London, April. 
  • Weed, M.E. (2005) 'Research Synthesis in Sport Management". Invited Workshop at 13th Congress of the European Association of Sport Management, Newcastle, September.