About us
We are a research group focusing on education policy, teaching, learning, identity, well-being, and health in sport programmes in Norwegian schools—primarily in public and private upper secondary schools. Our research also includes lower secondary schools with a specialisation in sport, as well as other models that combine sport and schooling from primary school through higher education. In addition, we study teacher education programmes designed for future teachers of sport programmes in upper secondary school. Methodologically, we use both quantitative and qualitative approaches, often in combination.
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The research group was originally established to highlight the need for more knowledge on sport programmes in upper secondary education. Lower secondary schools with a specialisation in sport are also part of our scope. Our research therefore addresses education policy, teaching, learning, identity, well-being, and health in sport-related school programmes across both public and private schools.
We also examine teacher education targeting the sport programme in upper secondary school. One of our group’s main goals is to strengthen the research-based foundation of teacher education within this field in Norway.
Within public upper secondary education, our research focuses on the four core subjects (exercise science, sport activity, sport leadership, sport and society) as well as the four elective subjects (elite sport, recreational sport, outdoor life, leadership development). In addition to the approximately 115 public schools offering the full sport programme, it is also important to generate knowledge about the many schools that only offer elite sport and/or recreational sport.
We are interested in all combinations of sport and education, and in the private sector in particular, we see a strong need for more research-based knowledge about students’ experiences and how best to support their broad identity development within specialised sport-oriented school pathways.
Research areas
- Education policy, teaching, learning, identity, health and well-being in sport programmes in public and private upper secondary schools
- Teacher education related to sport programmes
- Lower secondary schools with a specialisation in sport, and other combinations of sport and schooling
- The role of sport as a subject area in upper secondary education
- Research on the core subjects (exercise science, sport activity, sport leadership, sport and society) and elective subjects (elite sport, recreational sport, outdoor life, leadership development)
Publications
Midthaugen, Per & Leirhaug, Petter Erik (2024). Hva vet vi (ikke) om idrettsfag? – en forskningsoversikt for utdanningsprogram idrettsfag fra 1972 til 2022. Norsk pedagogisk tidsskrift, 108(3), p. 262–279. doi:10.18261/npt.108.3.6
Previous research related to the group’s research areas
Nyberg, C., Gustafsson, H., Haraldsen, H. M., & Wagnsson, S. (2025). Differentiated pathways in upper secondary school. World-class Swedish athletes experiences. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 1-21. Full article: Differentiated pathways in upper secondary school. World-class Swedish athletes experiences
Stornæs, Annett V. (2023). Too perfect to be healthy?: A quantitative and qualitative study of perfectionism, expectations, and mental health among students aged 13-16 in specialized sports, performing arts and regular lower secondary school. Doktorgradsavhandling, Norges idrettshøgskole
Haraldsen, H. M., Abrahamsen, F. E., Solstad, B. E., & Halvari, H. (2021). Narrative tensions in strained junior elite performers’ experiences of becoming elite performers. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 645098. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.645098
Haraldsen, H. M. (2019). Thriving, striving, or just surviving? A study of motivational processes among elite junior performers from sports and performing arts. PhD avhandling, Norges Idrettshøgskole.
Projects
- National survey: Teachers in sport programmes
- Outdoor life as a subject in upper secondary school
- The role of sport in teacher education
- Sport programmes and local communities