Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review and analyze in a descriptive way doctoral theses about of the history of physical exercise and sport in Spain from 1990-2013. The theses were obtained from three databases: Bases de Datos de Tesis Doctorales, Tesis Doctorales en Red and Dialnet. Using the documentary observation technique we selected 88 doctoral theses. The results were analyzed in seven groups: contents, periods, sources, methods, location, time and publications. Our conclusions show that the most discussed topics concerned physical education, sport and the media. Virtually every period has been studied, with the greatest number of studies about the 20th century, most of which span a time period of less than a hundred years. The primary sources used most often are printed material and archives. The historic method is the most used. Madrid universities have the greatest scientific production and the five years between 2000 and 2004 was when the largest number of studies were read. Most of the doctoral theses have been published in book form.