Patrick Trabal

Bio: Patrick Trabal is an academic researcher from University of Paris. The author has contributed to research in topics: Discipline & Agency (philosophy). The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 31 publications receiving 147 citations. Previous affiliations of Patrick Trabal include Paris West University Nanterre La Défense & School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences.

Resistance to Technological Innovation in Elite Sport

Abstract: In 1998, the French Canoe and Kayak Federation embarked on the creation of a new kayak. However, there was concern it would not succeed in its venture due to `social resistance'. This article aims therefore to reveal the social characteristics of those showing opposition to technological innovation, as well as those who are calling for it, and to determine the reasons behind reticence. A questionnaire was handed out to elite athletes, and interviews conducted with national coaches. The results show that, contrary to preliminary hypotheses, all athletes (including those of flat water racing) generally view such a project in a favourable light. The coaches express different types of `resistance' — a term which should be used with caution, as it suggests legitimacy and faith in progress — which have less to do with the social position of the actors than with criticism of past and present policies of the Federation.

Le logiciel Prospéro à l'épreuve d'un corpus de résumés sociologiques

Abstract: Le but de cet article est d'eprouver l'interet du logiciel Prospero pour l'analyse du corpus des resumes du premier congres de l'Association Francaise de Sociologie (AFS). Le logiciel etant construit principalement pour etudier des corpus de textes marques par des variations (en particulier dans les argumentations et dans le temps), nous avons considere ces resumes comme un dossier, c’est-a-dire comme un ensemble de textes marques par l'incertitude et les contraintes des auteurs proposant une communication dans un Reseau Thematique (RTF). Nous avons dans un premier temps montre combien les operations de codage, qui dans Prospero appartiennent au chercheur, sont decisives pour faire varier le niveau d'analyse et evaluer ses hypotheses. Dans un second temps, nous avons realise un modele tentant de decrire les attentes d'un lecteur d'une proposition de communication. Nous avons alors construit des categories, des collections et des etres fictifs afin d'eprouver ce modele. Le logiciel apparait dans ces conditions comme un outil permettant de reperer des proprietes singulieres du corpus (par exemple de discriminer l'usage d'une categorie ou d'une collection en fonction du RTF) mais aussi de pointer des textes atypiques qui invitent a reviser le modele. Enfin dans un troisieme temps, nous avons etudie la facon dont les auteurs se soumettent a une contrainte de proximite entre leur resume et l'appel a communication diffuse quelques mois plus tot par le RTF choisi. Cette approche montre que seuls certains reseaux font apparaitre une certaine unite en rassemblant des textes partageant des proprietes communes. A l'issue de ce travail qui permet de reperer quelques aspects interessants de la sociologie francaise, nous pensons surtout avoir montre l'interet et les limites de Prospero. Celui-ci est apparu comme un outil au service du chercheur permettant d'eprouver ses interpretations, ses hypotheses et ses modeles. Le logiciel serait encore plus utile si le corpus pouvait etre complete par des textes permettant d'obtenir une variation (notamment historique) et l'analyse de la production sociologique y gagnerait assurement.

A case study of withdrawal from french boxing

Abstract: This study analyzes the major factors related to the high turnover rate in French boxing. In 1995, the drop-out rate of French boxers was 54 percent, which consisted primarily of beginners and young participants in the 14-20 age bracket. Withdrawal from the sport results from four, inter-related factors: (1) the difference between participants' expectations and the reality of the sport; (2) the quality of the relationships between training partners; (3) the coaching quality; and (4) the organizational quality of the clubs.

Le dopage dans le cyclisme professionnel : accusations, confessions et dénégations

Abstract: Resume Le but de cet article est d’etudier la question du dopage en mobilisant les apports de la sociologie pragmatique. En etudiant symetriquement les positions des differents protagonistes et en les prenant au serieux, cette approche se propose de rendre compte de l’importance des fondements politiques et moraux qui guident les acteurs. L’affaire Festina du Tour de France 1998 constitue l’objet de l’article ; le corpus, construit a partir de cinq livres (publies par les principaux acteurs) fut analyse avec le logiciel Prospero. Nous avons notamment etudie les procedes mobilises par les protagonistes pour convaincre, les « grandeurs » auxquelles ils se referent pour defendre leurs conceptions du legitime et de l’illegitime, ainsi que leurs points de vue politiques sur l’avenir du cyclisme. La « figure » du recit a la premiere personne, par laquelle le locuteur se presente comme un temoin relatant des faits sous la forme d’une confession, apparait comme la plus efficace des strategies rhetoriques. Nous avons distingue cinq « grandeurs » auxquelles les protagonistes se referent quand ils evoquent le dopage dans le cyclisme. Cette pluralite permet de comprendre les tensions du conflit ainsi que les oppositions dans leurs propositions politiques pour sortir de la crise.

The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields (Chinese Translation)

Abstract: What makes organizations so similar? We contend that the engine of rationalization and bureaucratization has moved from the competitive marketplace to the state and the professions. Once a set of organizations emerges as a field, a paradox arises: rational actors make their organizations increasingly similar as they try to change them. We describe three isomorphic processes-coercive, mimetic, and normative—leading to this outcome. We then specify hypotheses about the impact of resource centralization and dependency, goal ambiguity and technical uncertainty, and professionalization and structuration on isomorphic change. Finally, we suggest implications for theories of organizations and social change.

'Hard' women and 'soft' women. The social construction of identities among female boxers

Abstract: This article uses a combination of Bourdieu's concept of habitus theory and an interactionist perspective to examine women's participation in the traditionally `man's world' of boxing. The two major aims of the study were to identify how women entered and stayed involved in boxing and the types of identities that they forged in the process. The data were collected via participant-observation and in-depth interviews with a sample of women boxers and their coaches. It was found that the women's entry into and continued involvement in boxing depends on both disposition and situation. It was also concluded that women boxers occupied an ambivalent position: on the one hand, by definition, they challenged the existing gender order; on the other hand, they also reinforced the status quo by displaying traditional modes of femininity. This tension was related to the modalities of boxers' practice (`hard' or `soft') and their social histories. In short, the process of identity-formation among women boxers was insep...

The Socialization of Young Cyclists and the Culture of Doping

Abstract: The objective of this article is to understand how the specific interactions between actors involved in the production of performance influence the socialization process by which cyclists learn the...

Personal Reasons for Withdrawal from Team Sports and the Influence of Significant others among Youth Athletes

Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify the main reasons for withdrawal from team sports and to examine the influence of significant others (i.e., coaches, parents, peers, and siblings) in the decision making concerning withdrawal from youth sports. An attempt was also made to compare withdrawal components and the influence of significant others in terms of gender, level of competition and years of involvement in youth sports. The participants in this study were young football (American soccer) (n=397), ice hockey (n=88) and basketball (n=50) players who had terminated their participation in their sports. Principal component analysis was used to reduce the number of withdrawal items and identify principal withdrawal components. The results indicated that having other things to do and a decline in excitement were the most important reasons for withdrawal. Coaches and teammates appeared to be the two main groups of significant others who influenced young player's decision making related to their withdrawal. S...