Bevan Grant

I joined the Department of Sport and Leisure Studies as the founding Director in 1993. In addition to teaching, my research interest is located in gerontology and primarily involves; (i) exploring how people over 65 years interpret and make sense out of their day-to-day experiences – particularly in regards to physical activity and well-being, and (ii) examining the interaction between research, policy and community initiatives with regards to ageing and physical activity. At the community level I am on the Board at Hamilton Age Concern, the Board of Waikato Regional Sports Trust, the committee for the Waikato Branch of NZ Gerontology Association, a member of the NZ Nutrition Foundation ‘Older Persons Working Group’, on the Accreditation Board of NZ Recreation Association and a life member of Physical Education NZ.

Description of Papers

SPLS102 Concepts of Sport and Leisure

This is a compulsory first year paper for the Bachelor of Sport and Leisure Studies and designed to develop an understanding that sport and leisure is experienced through a myriad situations. It also examines the place and role of sport and leisure in Aotearoa New Zealand from a historical perspective and considers how the political, social, cultural and economic changes influence current trends and developments.

SPLS305 Researching Sport and Leisure

This paper examines how research can be used to understand, interpret and represent sport and leisure experiences. It considers the strengths and weaknesses of various research approaches in the light of current methodological issues and perspectives. There is a focus on learning how to read and review research as well as gaining a basic understanding of conducting research in this context.

HDCO302 Ageing in an Ageing Society 

This paper examines some of the social, psychological, cultural and biological processes associated with later life and investigates how society is affected by an increasingly diverse older population. It will also draw on a variety of theoretical perspectives to critically examine the concept of ageing at an individual and societal level ad well as analyze the meanings and images associated with ageing and the way older people experience their everyday life.

Some Recent Scholarly Activities

Refereed Publications

Kluge, M., Grant, B., Glick, L., & Friend, L. (2010). Seeing is believing: Telling the 'inside' story of a beginning masters athlete through film.Journal of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, 2, 282–292.

Grant, B. (2010). Time for action: Advocacy for physical activity in later life. Asia Pacific Journal of Health, Sport and Physical Education, 1(3), 13-19.

Phoenix, C., & Grant, B. (2009). Expanding the research agenda on the physically active aging body. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 17(30), 362-380.

Grant. B. (2008). Should physical activity be on the healthy ageing agenda? Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, 33, 163-177.

Grant, B. (2008). An insider's view on physical activity in later life. Journal of Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 9, 817-829. 

Grant, B. (2007). Retirement villages: More than enclaves for the aged. Journal of Aging, Adaptation and Activity, 31(2), 37-55.

Grant, B., & Kluge, M. (2007). Exploring 'other body(s)' of knowledge: Getting to the heart of the story about aging and physical activity. Quest, 59, 398-414.

Grant, B., & Bassin, S. (2007). The challenge of paediatric obesity: More rhetoric than action. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 120, 61-68.

Grant, B. (2004). A new sense of self and a new lease of life: Leisure in a retirement village. Annals of Leisure Research, 7(3/4) 222-236

Book Chapters

Grant, B., & Pope, C. (2007). Sport in secondary school: Sport for all or sport for some? In C. Collins & S. Jackson (Eds.). Sport in Society (2nd ed.) (pp. 246-262). Palmerston North: Dunmore Press.

Non Refereed Journals

Grant, B. (2009). Exercise to feel good. Australasian Journal of Leisure Management, 73, 26-28.

Grant, B., Jones, P., McLean, G., & O'Neill, D. (2007). Physical activity in the lives of midlife and older New Zealanders. Australasian Parks and Leisure Journal. 10(3), 45-48.

Culpan, I., & Grant, B. (2007). Physical education down under: Fusion or confusion. Physical Educator: Journal of Physical Education New Zealand, 40(1), 19-20.

Grant, B. (2007). Searching for satisfaction. Australasian Leisure Management, 62, 30-32.

Grant. B. (2004). Moving with time. Fitness Life, 13, 110-112.

Grant, B. (2003). Leisure in later life: No rules, only choices. Australasian Parks and Leisure, 6(2), 14-20.

Conference Presentations

November 2010. Using film  to tell a tale: Nice story but!  Contemporary Ethnography Across the Disciplines. Hamilton.

July 2009. Re-Creating forever: Age, Access and Attitude. New Zealand Association Conference, New Plymouth

October 2009. Using visual methods to tell a tale: Entertainment or scholarship? Qualitative Research Conference, Vancouver, Canada.

November 2008 - A physically active … or is that (in)active older population. HEHA Research, Evaluating and Monitoring Conference, Wellington.

November 2008 - Masters sport: The inside story. 7th World Congress on Aging and Physical Activity. Japan. 

May 2008 - Satisfy me: Instant gratification and recreation. Recreation Summit, Canberra, Australia.

March 2008 - Physical activity and older adults. 6th International Congress on Physical Education and Sport, Kish, Iran.

November 2007 - Racing Against the Clock: Sport in the Later Years. New Zealand Association of Gerontology, Hamilton.

November 2006 - Having Fun in the WE, or is it ME Society.  Presented at the New Zealand Recreation Association Conference, Auckland. 

February  2006 - Sedentary Lives may be Endangered Lives: So What? Presented at the Ageing In New Zealand, NZiRA and Ministry of Social Development

Research Grants and Contracts

2008 - $6,840 School of Education Research Grant – Active Ageing: Making it Happen. This is a project evaluating an initiative by Sport Tasman in the top region of the South Island.

2004-2008 - $850,000pa for four years FRST Grant awarded to an interdisciplinary team at the University of Waikato (Director - Professor Jacque Poot) for research project titled Enhancing Wellbeing in an Ageing Society.

2005 - $5,670 School of Education Research Grant – The Inside Story on Inactive Adults Over 65 Years.

2004 - $6,900 research contract for Sport Waikato to evaluate the Waikato District Health Board sponsored Upright Right and Active Training Programme for Home Care Provides.