PSYCHOLOGY AND CLIMATE SCIENCE IN FOOTBALL

Jiuqin Duan

Wring 2: Academic Writing(Section 4200)

February 19, 2024

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Football unites people as the most popular sport in the world. From religion to science,

football influences all aspects of human society. Football, renowned for its profound impact, is

extensively studied across various areas and disciplines. Psychology and climate science, as two

prominent disciplines within the realm of football, exhibit significant distinctions in terms of

subject matter, methodologies, tones, purposes, and scopes. These variations highlight the unique

characteristics of their respective scholarly communities. The article titled "Greenhouse Gas

Emissions: Contributions Made by Football Clubs in England" serves as a representative

example of climate science, while "An Exploration of the Experiences of Elite Youth Footballers:

The Impact of Organizational Culture" is selected as an illustration within the psychology

discipline.

1. Focus and Subject Matter

The psychology article, "An Exploration of the Experiences of Elite Youth Footballers:

The Impact of Organizational Culture," explores the subjective experiences of elite youth

footballers, emphasizing that sport psychology should be delivered at an organizational level.

This aligns with the core focus of psychology, which aims to understand individual behaviors,

emotions, and perceptions in specific cultural background. For instance, in the case study “This

Lad Hasn’t Got What It Takes” mentioned in the psychology article, Nathan, a promising player

at Burrington City FC, faced a challenging transition to the first team after a debut mistake,

leading to criticism and confidence issues. He ultimately failed to reach a higher level in his
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football career.1 The author records and analyzes the players’ mental activity under the club

culture to gain an understanding of the influence of professional football culture on elite youth

footballers’ identity development and behavior.

Contrasting the psychological exploration of elite youth footballers, the second article

shifts its gaze to the global concern of waste management, using sports events, particularly

football, as a lens through which to scrutinize environmental impact. The main focus of the

essay is “examining waste management practices and then to calculate the estimated landfill

waste GHG emissions from eight football tiers in England (Tier 3 - Tier 10)”2. As the article

navigates through different football tiers in England, from the Premier League to lower leagues,

it concludes the waste management practices within football clubs: “Total waste generated at

football clubs during 2012/13 season ranged from about 2 tonnes to 345 tonnes. Annual number

of spectators at the club level ranged from 931 spectators to 114,494. The waste per spectator

ranged from 1.82 kg/spectator to 6.81 kg/spectator; mean waste per spectator was 3.27 kg. The

total number of spectators during 2012/13 season was 9,162,067.”3 The result of the survey

reveals the need for comprehensive waste management across all levels of sports.

The psychology experiment adopts a narrative approach, deriving research results from

individual player events, while the climate science essay emphasizes a data-centric approach.

Notably, the psychology analysis is more result-oriented, whereas the climate science essay

1Champ et al., “An Exploration of the Experiences of Elite Youth Footballers: The Impact of
Organizational Culture,” 146-67
2Dosumu et al., “Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Contributions Made by Football Clubs in
England,” 642-52
3Dosumu et al., “Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Contributions Made by Football Clubs in
England,” 642-52
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places greater emphasis on explaining methods and data collection, reflecting the distinct focuses

of these disciplines—psychology on the interaction of thoughts and behavior, and climate

science on straightforward data and comparison.

2. Methodology:

The first article examines the intricate world of elite youth footballers, exploring their

experiences and dissecting the profound influence of football club’s organizational culture. This

study, rooted in psychology, employs qualitative research methodologies commonly found in

psychological research, using techniques such as in-depth interviews and observational studies.

For example, another representative case described in the article is Connor, a promising player at

Burrington City FC, undergoes a challenging loan spell at Shackleton Town FC, navigating

obstacles and contemplating his future as he receives a professional contract offer on decision

day.4 Through interviewing Connor and performing observational studies on players’ behavior

during the support session, the authors are able to analysis their emotional status and inner

thoughts to determine how personal and interpersonal had influenced players’ professional

development and identity.

On the other hand, the climate science article adopts a survey research method,

employing interviews, physical observations, and structured questionnaires to collect quantitative

data on waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions. This is perfectly illustrate through the

topic sentence in the abstract of the article: “ The results reveal that in the 2012/13-football

season, over 9 million spectators watched football in the lower leagues, with mean waste per

4Champ et al., “An Exploration of the Experiences of Elite Youth Footballers: The Impact of
Organizational Culture,” 146-67
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spectator of 3.27 kg. 30,146,000 kg of waste was generated at the 8 football tiers, and the amount

of waste sent to the landfill was about 74,000,000 kg, which resulted in GHG emissions of

approximately 2,100,000 kg CO2e.”5 Besides, numerous statistical tables and bar plots are show

in the body part of the essay to illustrate waste estimations by clubs in each tier.

In the realms of psychology and climate science, distinct methodologies shape their

investigative paths. Psychology leans heavily on narrative processes, exploring individual stories

and behaviors to grasp the complexities of football players’ cognition. Interviews and

observational studies serve as primary tools, scrutinizing conversations to uncover the dilemma

of the youth athletes. Conversely, climate science relies on a data-centric approach, drawing

conclusions from extensive datasets sourced from surveys and experiments, providing insights

into football clubs’ waste patterns and trends. While both disciplines employ interviewing

methods, psychology focuses on human interaction analysis, while climate science rigorously

examines empirical evidence to decipher the intricate dynamics of climate change.

3. Tone and Purpose:

The psychology article is likely to maintain an analytical and objective tone, with the

purpose of contributing to the academic understanding of psychological processes. The tone of

the article is typical of psychological research that aims to present findings based on empirical

observations. By adopting a scientific tone, the article positions itself within the academic

discourse of psychology, emphasizing the importance of delivering the sport psychology at an

organizational level. To enhance objectivity, the author discloses her biographical positioning,

5Dosumu et al., “Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Contributions Made by Football Clubs in

England,” 642-52
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acknowledging the multiple identities she brought to the field, including being a researcher, a

sport psychology practitioner, a female, a student, an early career practitioner, and a passionate

football fan. Additionally, she acknowledges that these identities may have influenced her

observations, feelings about the club experience, and reported findings in the study.6

In contrast, the climate science article employs a tone characterized by urgency and

advocacy. It seeks to address a critical environmental issue – the impact of waste generation on

greenhouse gas emissions. In the conclusion, following the revelation of shocking statistics such

as 9 million spectators watching football, with an average waste per spectator of 3.27 kg, and a

total waste generated across the 8 football tiers estimated at approximately 30,146 tonnes, the

authors assert that football clubs must take significant steps to diminish their environmental

impact.7 They emphasize the potential for these clubs to play a crucial role in educating

spectators about waste reduction practices and maximizing recycling efforts. The urgency in the

tone reflects the increasing awareness of the ecological consequences of irresponsible waste

disposal, especially in the context of large-scale sports events.

The two essays have distinct purposes due to the inherent nature of their respective

disciplines, yet both aim to enhance the overall quality of football. The tone varies slightly, with

the psychology article adopting a more objective approach, while the climate science piece

appears more subjective due to the extensive listing of data. Nevertheless, scholars in both

disciplines exhibit a high level of academic rigor and scientific research dedication.

6Champ et al., “An Exploration of the Experiences of Elite Youth Footballers: The Impact of
Organizational Culture,” 146-67
7Dosumu et al., “Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Contributions Made by Football Clubs in
England,” 642-52
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4. Scope:

The scope of the psychology research is narrow but deep, focusing specifically on the

experiences of elite youth footballers. The study might investigate various aspects, including the

impact of coaching philosophies, peer relationships, and the broader club culture on the

psychological well-being of young players. For instance, it might explore how a supportive

organizational culture enhances resilience and mental toughness among players, crucial attributes

in the competitive world of elite football. This limited scope allows for an in-depth exploration

of individual dynamics.

The scope of the climate science research extends beyond the shallow level of football,

reaching into the broader societal and environmental implications of waste generation. For

instance, the article presents compelling examples of waste statistics from various sports events,

emphasizing the considerable amounts produced and the consequent environmental burden. The

2010 South African World Cup, generating 1.8 kg of waste per spectator, serves as an illustration

of the magnitude of the issue.8 The work aims to highlight the broader societal and

environmental implications of waste generation.

When comparing the scope of climate science research to psychology, it's evident that

climate science encompasses a broader range, often targeting entire countries or global

phenomena, given the universal nature of climate issues. In contrast, psychology tends to focus

on smaller groups or communities, conducting deep analyses to uncover phenomena or problems

within these specific contexts. While climate science addresses large-scale, global challenges,

psychology provides insights into more localized human behavior and experiences, offering

8Dosumu et al., “Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Contributions Made by Football Clubs in

England,” 642-52
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detailed understandings of community dynamics and psychological phenomena within smaller

groups.

In conclusion, the exploration of psychology and climate science in football reveals the

dynamic interaction between individual experiences and broader environmental concerns. While

psychology focuses on the intricate world of elite youth footballers, emphasizing the impact of

organizational culture on their development, climate science takes a broader perspective,

scrutinizing the environmental consequences of waste generation during football events. The

distinct focuses, methodologies, tones, and scopes of the two essays showcase the diversity

within the scholarly communities of psychology and climate science. Despite these differences,

both disciplines contribute valuable insights to the enhancement of football, urging for a holistic

approach that considers both individual well-being and environmental sustainability. The

collaboration of these disciplines could pave the way for a more comprehensive understanding of

football's impact on individuals and the planet, fostering a balance between the psychological

and ecological dimensions of the sport.

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Bibliography

Champ, Francesca M., Mark S. Nesti, Noora J. Ronkainen, David A. Tod, and Martin A.
Littlewood. “An Exploration of the Experiences of Elite Youth Footballers: The Impact of
Organizational Culture.” Journal of Applied Sport Psychology 32, no. 2 (November 5,
2018): 146–67. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2018.1514429.

Dosumu, Adekunle, Ian Colbeck, and Rachel Bragg. “Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Contributions
Made by Football Clubs in England.” Atmospheric and Climate Sciences 04, no. 04
(2014): 642–52. https://doi.org/10.4236/acs.2014.44057.