The research of The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences is in a dynamic stage of development. It obtained permanent 
research facilities of its own in 2010.
The main emphasis is on sports pedagogics and human biology. The research is characterized by its close contacts with students and by multidisciplinary projects.
GIH is the only independent specialist college in Sweden. It's missions are to conduct training and research in sport, physical activity and health. Research at GIH explores issues in the field of sport sciences with different starting points, human biology as well as humanities and social sciences.
The research at GIH often requires a multidisciplinary approach, in which various lines of research are mutually supportive. GIH benefits of the presence of multiple scientific disciplines since research is conducted both in the field of human biology as well as humanities and social sciences.
The research at GIH is organised in three different areas:
- Culture and learning
- Performance and training
- Physical activity and health
The behavioural science oriented research within the area of sport, culture and learning is organised in the research group for physical education and sport pedagogy. Prominent research areas are the purpose and practice of physical education schooling, and norms and values in sport cultures. This spring 2014, one doctoral student will defend a thesis about what there is to know when someone knows how to do a particular movement, e.g. a pole vault, or a "900 flat spin with a tail grab" in freeskiing (dissertation 9. May). Further, two more doctoral students will present at licentiate seminars their results from studies about how to teach 10 year-olds how to orientate with the help of a map, and how dance exergames can function as study material in the teaching of dance in upper secondary school (dissertation 28. May and 11. June respectively).
Research in human biology focuses on two areas: One area is exercise physiology, in which the adaptation of the body's energy metabolism and circulation to work and exercise is studied. One of the research projects deals with the causes of fatigue. Another concerns management and control of energy processes in the muscles and their adaptation to training.
The other area is biomechanics and motor control. This research attempts to explain how movements are guided by the nervous system and the effects of various kinds of loads on the body. Advanced computerized systems are used to map the patterns of movement.
One research project in biomechanics concentrates on understanding the causes of back problems. Another area of research is the development of children's motor skills, balance and muscular strength.
Several of the teachers of the university college have written doctoral theses on subjects related to sport, and can thus show the students direct relationships between theory and practice.