LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND: A BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW OF INCLUSION IN SPORTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/spectrum/2024-2-5Keywords:
inclusion, sports, mapping, VOSviewer, clustering, bibliometrics, Web of ScienceAbstract
Inclusion has become a fundamental aspect of global social policy, which aims to establish an inclusive environment that supports diverse population groups. It is widely acknowledged that sport serves as an efficacious instrument for the advancement of social well-being and growth. It has the capacity to confer benefits at both the individual and social levels. In light of these considerations, it is imperative to view the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in sports as a crucial cross-cutting theme. Nevertheless, there are still obstacles that impede the participation of certain individuals and groups. The objective of this paper is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications in the Web of Science Core Collection database to outline the structure of the research field of “inclusion in sports” by identifying leading and insufficiently studied thematic areas in this field. Methodology. The Web of Science Core Collection (WoS) database was used as the main source of bibliometric data to create a sample of studies. The search was conducted using the keywords “inclusion,” “sports” and the phrase “inclusion in sports,” and the keyword “school” was excluded. After checking for relevance to the field of study, removing review articles and early access articles, and removing duplicates, the study sample included 2204 documents for the period from 2013 to 2022. The study was conducted in several stages. Achieving the research goal involved the use of general scientific methods (theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature) and the bibliometric method – scientific mapping. Among the methods used, the citation analysis and the analysis of common words were chosen. To create and visualize bibliometric networks, VOSviewer 1.6.18 was applied. Results. The co-word analysis provided valuable insight into the direction and focus of inclusion research in sport. Based on thematic similarity, the studies were grouped into the following clusters: “Participants and Directions of Sports Activities,” “Medical-Biological and Rehabilitation Orientation,” “Physical Culture and Health Activities,” “Adaptive Physical Education,” and “Influence of Sports Activities.” This shows the most prominent aspects of the topic of inclusion and sports. At the same time, by analyzing the connections between different publications, it is possible to gain a better understanding of the current state of knowledge in the field of inclusive sports. A citation analysis was carried out and key themes represented by the following clusters were identified: “Challenges and Prospects of Inclusion in Sports,” “Diversity in Sports,” “Inclusive Organizational Culture of Sports Structures,” “Adaptive Sports,” “Gender Policy in Sports,” “Inclusive Model of Physical Education,” “Sports as a Means of Social Integration.” The analysis of the most cited and therefore the most influential publications in the clusters has enabled the identification of the most significant challenges and issues pertaining to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in sporting activities. Based on the findings of this analysis, priority areas for further investigation have been delineated. It has been observed that several thematic areas of study remain underrepresented, including the training and professional development of specialists. Conclusions. This renders further research pertinent, and there is a growing interest in scientific research in this area. Such research will facilitate social integration, reduce discrimination, and overcome social barriers, thereby ensuring a more inclusive, tolerant, and sustainable so ciety as a whole.
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