Wissenschaftskommunikation in der Sportwissenschaft

This study, with a focus on German sports science, is the first to investigate how sports scientists assess their involvement in science communication, what attitudes they have in this respect and what barriers they face. With the help of an online survey of 154 sports scientists, the current situation was analyzed. The study is based on the only national survey of scientists to date regarding their activities in science communication, conducted by the institutions Wissenschaft im Dialog (Science in Dialogue, WiD), the German Center for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) and the National Institute for Science Communication (NaWik) in 2020, the results of which are compared with the results of the present study. Sports scientists use traditional formats less frequently than the participants in the original survey, while online channels are used more frequently, albeit at a low level. Overall, despite positive attitudes sports science has so far communicated to a limited extent. A lack of time and resources in particular were perceived as barriers by sports scientists as well as by the participants in the original survey. When looking at the status groups, there were clear differences in the use of formats and online channels but also in the attitude towards science communication and the perceived barriers. The results provide insights for the development of measures to promote science communication, especially for early and mid-career researchers. Science communication should not be seen as an additional task but as an integral part of the work that must be appropriately rewarded. This is because science communication can promote the urgently needed transfer between science and practice. Sports science topics in particular, such as the promotion of an active lifestyle or the clarification of fitness myths, are of social interest and therefore have a great potential to be communicated.