Christopher R. Matthews

I've spent the last 30mins trying to write a sentence about how hard it can be to write a good sentence.

The Green Wave is coming but so is WW3. The Lord giveth and take away.

What a ninny

Got a phd student who needs easing into philosophy of science? We wrote this chapter with them in mind. More info here: www.routledge.com/Qualitative-...

Someone should design a course called 'Sociological discoveries that changed the world' and record short, shape lectures for YouTube. That could be a great success for the writer and a lovely resource for the discipline. @rwjdingwall.bsky.social know anyone?

This post is gonna age like fine wine. Unfortunately in that time a needless amount of brains and lives will be damaged

Down with Dons - John Carey. Recommended reading for anyone in academia, esp those 'overgrown schoolboy professors' that are so desperate to be respected for their honorifics.

Ive been away teaching medics abouts doing research. Its been a great few days. My main take away is the false separation they see between their practice and their research projects. Hopefully we've corrected that somewhat, it seems we've inspired some different ways forward.

Anyone else feel like an 'odd one out in academia'?

Anyone else feel like an 'odd one out in academia'?

Steve Borgatti and I invite contributions to a special issue on "Social Network Theory" at the journal Social Networks.
Send us a wide range of approaches and manuscripts, anything really, on the theoretical interpretation, systematization, integration, and reflection of empirical network research!

Children’s rights, human development and play – rejecting performance-orientated youth sport This commentary is distinctly personal for us. We think it should be likewise for all scholars, leaders and organisers involved in youth sport. This is because, to our minds, at the core of most pe...

There are sports where kids get quite routine brain trauma. Obviously that is immoral. Counter arguments never hold children's health, well being and human rights in high enough regard. More here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

The quality of your methods is meaningless if the quality of your theory is lacking. Put another way - if your basic assumptions are wack your methodological rigour is wasted effort. More in Ch8 here: www.routledge.com/Doing-Good-S....

Caring for Former Athletes who live with Neurodegeneration This research links between sport, brain injuries and various neurological disorders.

Our Charity Manager - Dr Jane Rowley developed this information leaflet with other researchers at Nottingham Trent University. If you would like a copy please get in touch via our contact form. More information here: tinyurl.com/mwfsm5xp @drcrmatthews.bsky.social @nottinghamtrentuni.bsky.social

The original was but not the response. Im happy to discuss these ideas of theyre of interest, cheers

Twitter used to be ace, I had so many positive conversations there, or at least it was the start of so many. But those days are long gone unfortunately. The moment has passed i think. What we're left with is all the negatives elements of social media and not much of the positive

Nothing to do with the new year, but I resolve to have a footnote that is a page long at some point in my career. Obviously I'll credit Stewart Lee for leading the way.

Formal teaching qualifications should focus on the science of pedagogy. But not to the detriment of the social theory, politics, theology, humanities and art of pedagogy. Accepting these statements requires a radical shift in how PGCHEs & university pedagogy is structured and managed.

I think democracy, like any system of governance, fails/succeeds based on moral actions of those living with in. Its a revolution in morality and education that we need for any system to work. That requires a different understanding of social science and knowledge more broadly. What do you think?

Why Things Matter to People - Andrew Sayer

Embedded in these four books (in combo with a background of decent social theory) is a powerful reworking of academia and society more broadly. How will we get people to engage with such ideas when they are so quick to farm out their deliberations to unthinking artificial 'intelligence'?

If you're like me & like reading non-fiction on holiday, I couldn't recommend this more highly. Powerful, cogent, clear. Halpin is well read & his arguments are well reasoned. He writes with care & confidence. Very insightful & quite inspirational at time #education #pedagogy #sociology #theory

The link didn't work for me unfortunately 😔

Do you see the problem of performance sport? @jackhardwicke.bsky.social and i certainly do. So we put this special issue together. Do get in touch if you have an idea. Cheers, CRM think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issu...

This feels like the start of what could be a fun chat, but i hate typing on my phone (and im currently by a pool on holiday). Maybe a conversation some time in the future? If youve writen anything on such topics please do send links

I start from a very different premise. Disciplines are largely nonsense, and finding what unites is not only possible but the foundation for better scholarship. Now, getting published from that sort of approsch is a team effort becuase most people start from disciplinary fetishism. 1/2

Ive thought on this for a while. I think there are two essential starting points - a discussion of the morality and philosophy of research that your work build from. Ironing out the tensions there is important but I dont think many/most scholars can do such things with confidence. What do you think?

There is very little reason for developing scholars to memorise information. If your pedagogy is built around such a thing, and assessing retention, I think its misguided. Helping people think > learning facts.

Editorial doublespeak - when a journal claims to support rigorous methods but inforce restrictive word count limits on methodological discussions.

Formal teaching qualifications should focus on the science of pedagogy. But not to the detriment of the social theory, politics, theology, humanities and art of pedagogy. Accepting these statements requires a radical shift in how PGCHEs & university pedagogy is structured and managed.