Dr Steven Cock

Teaching

I have extensive experience of teaching and supporting undergraduate students (Levels 4-6) and postgraduate students (Level 7) across a wide range of business-related subject and discipline areas.

At present, I teach on the following postgraduate modules:

• Capstone Project (Level 7).
• Dynamic Perspectives on Sustainable Business (Level 7).

I also teach on the following undergraduate modules:

• Research Methods (Level 5).
• Management Research Methods (Level 5)

Alongside teaching, I have extensive experience of supervising dissertation and research projects across a range of disciplines, subjects and topic areas at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

I also supervise doctoral candidates who are undertaking research at PhD level and postgraduate research students at Masters-by-Research level.

Research

Research Interests

My research is underpinned by a sociological approach. My main research interests include: 

• Examining long-term processes of organisational structure and change in the sport and leisure industries.
• The emergence, development and history of modern sport and leisure activities.
• Understanding key social justice issues in sport and leisure from a sociological perspective.
• Examining the processes through which people’s attitudes regarding ‘acceptable’ forms of social behaviour (such as manners, etiquette and forms of violence) have changed over time.
• Critically analysing underpinning power dynamics relating to a range of contemporary issues in modern business and workplace settings.
• The sociology of knowledge and use of research methods in business disciplines and in the social sciences.
• The development of critical approaches to learning, teaching and pedagogy within higher education.
• I am currently involved in a range of individual and collaborative research projects that are linked to the research areas listed above.

Research Group Membership

I am an active member of the following research groups:

• Co-Chair/Co-Founder of the People in Employment Settings (PiES) Research Group at York St John University (please click here for further information).
• Member of the Inclusion, Society and Education Research Group, York St John University (please click here for further information).
• Member of the Higher Education Research Group, York St John University (please click here for further information).

External Research Funding

I have been successful in applying for the following external research funding:

• £1,000: University Forum for Human Resource Development Honorarium, 2025. Project title: The impact of gender and perceived social status on career trajectories within academic careers. (Application with colleagues from the People in Employment Settings Research Group)
• £1,000: University Forum for Human Resource Development Honorarium, 2025. Project title: Two heads are better than one: Evaluating a dual approach to supporting degree apprentices in Higher Education with academic tutors and work-based tutors. (Application with colleagues from the People in Employment Settings Research Group)

Internal Research Funding

I have successfully applied for internal research funding through the following schemes:

• £5,100: Quality-Related (QR) Funding, York Business School, York St John University, 2024. (Application with colleagues from the People in Employment Settings Research Group)
•  £2,900: Cross-School Grant Primer Research Fund, York St John University, 2023. (Application with colleagues from the Higher Education Research Group)
•  £500: Student as Researchers Scheme, York St John University, 2023. (Application with colleagues from the People in Employment Settings Research Group)
• £1,000: Quality-Related (QR) Funding, School of Education, Language and Psychology, York St John University, 2023. (Application with colleagues from the Inclusion, Society and Education Research Group)
• £1,500: Academic Development Directorate (Students as Researchers Scheme) and the School of Sport, York St John University, 2017.
•  £1,000: Students as Researchers Scheme, York St John University, 2017.

Research Student Supervision

•  I have supervised postgraduate research students at both Doctoral (PhD) and Masters-by-Research levels to successful completion.
•  I am currently supervising four doctoral candidates who are undertaking research at PhD level.
•  I would welcome enquiries from potential postgraduate research candidates who are interested in conducting research linked to the “research interests” topic areas listed above.

Publications

Peer-reviewed publications (available on RaY)

Peer-reviewed journal articles

• Johnston, A., Cock, S., Mathew, R. and Coombes, P. (2025) Degree Apprenticeships, Foundation Degrees and Workforce Development in the United Kingdom: A Bibliometric Review and Research Agenda. International Journal of Human Resource Development: Practice, Policy and Research. (In Press). 

• Johnston, A., Cock, S., Walsh, S. and Mathew, R. (2025) Organisational attachment and the academic: A collaborative autoethnographic reflection within the “newer normal” context of emergent workplace norms in UK higher education. International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-06-2025-1058 (online first publication). 

• Cock, S., Coombes, P. and Swain, S. (2025) Leisure, Social Justice, Research, Praxis and Scholarship: A Bibliometric Analysis and Research Agenda. International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure, 8 (3), 313-337. 

• Mathew, R., Coombes, P., Cock, S., Johnston, A., Walsh, S. and Walker-Smith, L. (2025) Towards a ‘Newer Normal’? A Bibliometric Analysis Examining Organisational Culture in the Post-COVID-19 Higher Education Landscape in the United Kingdom. International Journal of Changes in Education, 2 (3), 207-218. 

• Cock, S. (2024) Experiential learning in events management degree programmes: A position statement on issues of evidence-based practice. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education, 35, 100506. 

• Chapman, G., Cock, S. and Swain, S. (2024) A Matter of Distinction? A Case Study Examining the Development of a Sporting Habitus Amongst Male Sixth-Form Pupils in a Private School in the United Kingdom. International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure, 7 (2), 129-153. 

• Johnston, A., Cock, S., Walsh, S. and Healy, S. (2023) From there to here: Reflections on alternative journeys to a career in academia. International Journal of HRD: Practice, Policy and Research, 7 (2), 19-37. 

• Mierzwinski, M., Cock, S. and Velija, P. (2019) A position statement on social justice, physical education and bullying: A figurational sociological perspective. Quest, 71 (2), 215-226. 

Book chapters

• Mierzwinski, M., Cock, S. and Velija, P. (2020) A position statement on social justice, physical education and bullying: A figurational sociological perspective. In N. Watson, G. Jarvie and A. Parker (eds.), Sport, Physical Education and Social Justice: Religious, Sociological and Capability Perspectives, (pp. 116-130). Abingdon, Routledge.
• Cock, S. (2018) Doing developmental research as a figurational sociologist: A case study on the long-term sportization of swimming. In D. Malcolm and P. Velija (eds.), Figurational Research in Sport, Leisure and Health, (pp. 87-101). Abingdon, Routledge

Publications continued

Books 

• Cock, S., Johnston, A., Zhu, H., Walsh, S., Mathew, R., Swain, S., Esfehani, M., Paddison, B. and Hall, J. (2025) Leisure Studies Association Annual Conference 2025: Book of Abstracts. York: York St John University. Available at: https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/12188/  

Reports

• Johnston, A., Cock, S., Walsh, S. and Mathew, R. (2024) Good Experience Project: Research and Evaluation to Inform the Development of a Communication Charter – Stage One Report: Literature Review and Analysis of Preliminary Data. York: York St John University. Available at: https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/11096/

Published Blog Posts

• Cock, S. (2024) Learning from events: Can higher education students reflect more ‘critically’ on their work-based experiences? Higher Education Research Group, 2 July 2024. Available at:
  https://blog.yorksj.ac.uk/herg/2024/07/02/learning-from-events-can-higher-education-students-reflect-more-critically-on-their-work-based-experiences/
• Cock, S., Johnston, A., Walsh, S. and Healy, S. (2024) Different backgrounds... shared uncertainties: How can universities support higher education staff with issues of imposter syndrome? The SEDA Blog: Supporting and Leading Educational Change, 4 September. Available at: https://thesedablog.wordpress.com/2024/09/
• Johnston, A., Cock, S., Coombes, P., Mathew, R., Walsh, S. and Walker-Smith, L. (2024) From the ‘new’ to the ‘newer’ normal: Organisational culture and change within Higher Education. People in Employment Settings Research Group, 15 November 2024. Available at: https://blog.yorksj.ac.uk/pies/2024/11/15/from-the-new-to-the-newer-normal-organisational-culture-and-change-within-higher-education/

Published Abstracts

• Cock, S. (2024) Power, Change, Resistance: Examining Issues of Gender and the Emergence of Female Competitors in the Sport of Swimming, c.1870s-1920s. In: University of the West of Scotland and Leisure Studies Association, LSA 2024: Book of Abstracts, (pp. 64-65). Glasgow: University of the West of Scotland.
• Mathew, R., Coombes, P., Cock, S., Walsh, S., Johnston, A. and Walker-Smith, L. (2024) The impact of COVID-19 on organisational culture in UK Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review. In: M.J. Sousa and S. Lekchiri (eds.), UFHRD Book of Abstracts: Annual Conference 2024, (pp. 138-140). Lisbon: ISEC Lisboa/UFHRD.
• Cock, S. (2023) Examining the Long-term ‘Indoorisation’ of Swimming and Bathing in the United Kingdom: A Sociological Analysis of Changing Leisure Spaces. In: Leisure Studies Association, LSA 2023: Book of Abstracts, (p.38). Bournemouth: Bournemouth University/LSA.
• Cock, S. (2018) A ‘Modest’ Endeavour? A Sociological Analysis of Power-struggles surrounding the Emergence of Female Competitors in Competitive Swimming, c.1870s-1920s. In: British Sociological Association, Identity, Community and Social Solidarity: 2018 Annual Conference, (p.138). Durham: BSA Publications Ltd.

Conferences

Invited Conference Presentations

• Cock, S. (2022) Events and Tourism. Teachers and Careers Adviser Conference, York St John University, United Kingdom, 15 December.
• Cock, S. (2020) Against the Odds? Examining the Emergence of Early Swimming Contests, c.1590s-1830s. Southern History Society Annual Conference, University of Winchester, United Kingdom, 8 February.

Conference/Symposium Workshops

• Cock, S. and Johnston, A. (2024) PiES: Establishing a research group within a teaching focused post-92 university. Innovate, Inspire, Lead: Transforming Research Culture Symposium, Advance HE, United Kingdom, 16 July.

Conference Presentations

• Cock, S. (2025) Positives, Perils, Procedures? Issues to Consider in the Use of Digitised Archive Research in Sport and Leisure Disciplines: A Case Study on the Laws of Amateur Swimming, 1869. Leisure Studies Association Annual Conference, York St John University, York, United Kingdom, 8-10 July. 

• Johnston, A., Cock, S., Walsh, S. and Mathew, R. (2025) Academics’ attachment with their institution: A collaborative autoethnographic reflection in the “newer normal” context of emergent workplace norms in higher education. University Forum for Human Resource Development Annual Conference, Ulster University, Belfast, United Kingdom, 11-13 June. 

• Cock, S. (2024) Power, Change, Resistance: Examining Issues of Gender and the Emergence of Female Competitors in the Sport of Swimming, c.1870s-1920s. Leisure Studies Association Annual Conference, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 10-12 July.
• Cock, S. (2024) Connect, disconnect… are we all together? Examining issues of governance in swimming as an emerging sport, leisure, business and economic activity, c.1860-1908. Economic and Business History Society and Association of Business Historians Annual Conference, York, United Kingdom, 27-29 June.
• Mathew, R., Coombes, P., Cock, S., Walsh, S., Johnston, A. and Walker-Smith, L. (2024) The impact of COVID-19 on organisational culture in UK Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review. University Forum for Human Resource Development Annual Conference, ISEC Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, 12-14 Jun
• Cock, S. (2023) Examining the Long-term ‘Indoorisation’ of Swimming and Bathing in the United Kingdom: A Sociological Analysis of Changing Leisure Spaces. Leisure Studies Association Annual Conference, Bournemouth University, United Kingdom, 11-13 July.
• Cock, S. (2023) How Many Words…?! Discussing Issues of Anxiety and Wellbeing for Staff and Students on Undergraduate Dissertation and Capstone Modules. Talk About Teaching Conference, York St John University, United Kingdom, 2 February.
• Cock, S. (2022) Events and Tourism. Teachers and Careers Adviser Conference, York St John University, United Kingdom, 15 December.
• Cock, S. (2020) Against the Odds? Examining the Emergence of Early Swimming Contests, c.1590s-1830s. Southern History Society Annual Conference, University of Winchester, United Kingdom, 8 February.
• Cock, S., Hopkins, J. and Clayton, L. (2018) Fairness, Equality and Reducing ‘Free-Riding’: A Case Study on Implementing the Viva Warning Approach to Group Assessment. Talking About Teaching Conference, York St John University, United Kingdom, 26 June.
• Cock, S. (2018) A ‘Modest’ Endeavour? A Sociological Analysis of Power-struggles surrounding the Emergence of Female Competitors in Competitive Swimming, c.1870s-1920s. British Sociological Association: Annual Conference, Northumbria University, United Kingdom, 10-12 April.
• Cock, S. (2017) Power, Buoyancy and Propulsion? Towards the Development of Early Swimming Strokes, c.1590s-1840s. Research Reflections Conference, York St John University, United Kingdom, 8 September.
• Cock, S. (2016) ‘An Appeal to Common Decency’: Swimming, Bathing and Changing Attitudes to the Body. Research Reflections Conference, York St John University, United Kingdom, 8 September.
• Mierzwinski, M. and Cock, S. (2016) Engaging Students through a Problem Based Learning (PBL) Approach: A 5-Year Case-Study of an Undergraduate Sports Module. Talking About Teaching Conference, York St John University, United Kingdom, 22 January.
• Cock, S. (2015) Reflections in the Water: Swimming, Gambling and Civilizing Processes, c.1590s-1830s. Research Reflections Conference, York St John University, United Kingdom, 10 September.
• Cock, S. (2015) Aquatic Wagers: Swimming, Gambling and Civilizing Trends, c.1590s-1830s. British Society of Sports History: Annual Conference, Swansea University, United Kingdom, 2-4 September.
• Cock, S. (2015) Swimming, Bathing, Health and Wellbeing: A Figurational Sociological Analysis. International Sociology of Sport Association World Congress, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France, 9-12 June.
• Cock, S. (2010) Method, Style and Technique: Reconsidering the Development of Swimming Strokes. British Society of Sports History: Annual Conference, Wellcome Collection, London, United Kingdom, 10-11 September.
• Cock, S. (2010) The Development of Swimming Strokes: A Sociological Interpretation (Distributed Paper). XVII World Congress of the International Sociological Association, Gothenburg, Sweden, 11-17 July.
• Cock, S. (2010) Emerging Themes: Reconsidering the Development of Swimming Strokes. Postgraduate Research Student Conference, University of Chester, United Kingdom, 20 May.
• Cock, S. (2009) Processes of Sportization: The Emergence of the Amateur Swimming Association. British Society of Sports History: Annual Conference, University of Stirling, United Kingdom, 17-19 July.
• Cock, S. (2008) Swimming and Bathing: From the ‘Middle Ages’ to the Early Twentieth Century. British Society of Sports History: Annual Conference, University of Brighton, Eastbourne Campus, United Kingdom, 5-7 September

Professional activities

External Accreditations and Memberships

I hold the following accreditation with Advance HE:

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).

I am a member of the following professional organisations:

• Leisure Studies Association.
• Critical Pedagogies in Sport Network.
• Affiliate member of the UK Advising and Tutorial Association.

External committee membership:

• I have previously been a member of the Executive Committee for the Leisure Studies Association.

Conference Leadership, Planning and Organisation

I have undertaken leadership roles as Chair/Vice-Chair on the organising committees for the following international academic conferences:

• Vice-Chair of the Organising Committee: University Forum for Human Resource Development (UFHRD) Annual Conference 2026, 17-19 June, York St John University, York, United Kingdom (please click here for further information).
• Chair of the Organising Committee: Leisure Studies Association Annual Conference 2025, 8-10 July, York St John University, York, United Kingdom (please click here for further information).

I was also a member of the organising committee for the following academic symposium:

• Disciplinary Spaces in Higher Education, Student Identity and Sense of Belonging, Higher Education Research Group (HERG) Symposium, 10 June 2024, York St John University, York, United Kingdom.

External Examining and Quality Assurance

I am currently an external examiner at the following institutions:

• Manchester Metropolitan University.

External Consultancy Activities

I am currently involved in external consultancy activities for the following organisations:

• NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board – Good Experience Project: Research and Development to Inform the Development of a Communication Charter. (Consultancy undertaken alongside colleagues from the People in Employment Settings (PiES) Research Group and the YSJU Institute for Health and Care Improvement).

Peer-Review Activities

I have undertaken peer-review activities for various academic journals, including:

• Cogent Business and Management.
• European Journal for Sport and Society.
• European Physical Education Review.
• International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior.
• International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure.
• Journal of Contemporary Ethnography.
• Journal of Further and Higher Education.
• Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education.
• Leisure Studies.
• Sport in History.

Journal Editorial Activities

I am currently involved as a guest editor for upcoming special issues of the two following academic journals:

• Journal of Further and Higher Education.
• International Journal of Human Resource Development: Practice, Policy and Research.