An EconoTimes perspective

Joshua Woods

Associate Professor of Sociology, West Virginia University

Associate Professor of Sociology, West Virginia University Josh received a PhD in sociology from Michigan State University, and now works as an associate professor of sociology at West Virginia University. His research examines the relationships between individuals and groups, between people’s behavior and the social context in which they act, between public perceptions and social forces. As a committed generalist, he applies this theoretical approach to a range of topics without paying homage to any one academic specialization, subfield or social problem. Josh’s most recent work examines emerging sports communities, such as disc golf, roller derby and esports. Conceptualizing these communities as social movements, he looks at how institutions, organizations and social norms shape the popularity of alternative sports. Josh is editor at Parked, an academic blog about disc golf. He’s working on a book, Disc Golf Land: Rise of an Unknown Sport.