Peer Reviewing Historical Research for Sport Management: It’s Not Qualitative Research

Chad Seifried

Abstract: The challenge of finding qualified reviewers of history (e.g., management, economic, business, etc.) is pronounced because there is a: 1) misconception that historical research is the same as qualitative research (e.g., ethnography, interview-based, and textual or content analytic studies); and a general 2) lack of awareness by many historians regarding writing norms for management journals. This work will communicate information to historians about the writing expectations in leading sport management journals and differentiate historical from qualitative research for non-historians. Next, this review offers an interpretation of what the historical writing and research process entails and presents evidence of historical research in sport management studies. Finally, this work provides recommendations to historical researchers and potential editors and peer reviewers of historical research to improve the quality of the review process and subsequent negotiation for authors and referees to help all learn from their differences for the potential benefit of the field.

Citation: Seifried, C. (2017). Peer reviewing historical research for sport management: It’s not qualitative research. International Journal of Sport Management, 18(4), 461-487.

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