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The central objective of this investigation was to examine within game penalties that were levied against football programs from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States. Previous scholarship that sets an appropriate background on sports science and culture has revealed that referee bias has occurred in many European sports. It was in the methods section of this scholarship that statistical analyses were discussed in terms of game day penalties that occurred within the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from the 2006 through the 2015 season. The results illustrated that referees penalized football teams from historically black college and universities (HBCUs) significantly more than football teams from predominantly white institutions (PWIs). An interpretation of this quantitative data was subsequently completed and Expectancy Violations Theory (EVT) was appropriately spotlighted in the discussion section of this study in an effort to assign meaning to the analytics of interest.

This study focused on historically Black colleges and universities in men’s college basketball. A review of previous literature revealed that referee bias was a recurring phenomenon, while whiteness studies served as the theoretical frame. The data for this analysis centered on a 16-year period of time. The referees called a statistically significant number of personal fouls per game against men’s college basketball teams from historically Black colleges and universities relative to the number of personal fouls per game that referees called against men’s college basketball teams from predominantly White institutions. These findings suggest that men’s college basketball players were judged differently depending on whether the student-athlete played for a historically Black college and university or a predominantly White institution. The implications for critical and social theories were noted in the study discussion.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the personal fouls that were called against a historically black college and university (HBCU) that athletically participates in a conference which is comprised of predominantly white institutions (PWIs). The study introduction provided an overview of Tennessee State University (TSU) as it relates to their involvement in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). The cultural approach to organizations served as the communication-centric theoretical frame while the previous literature on referee bias was reviewed. The criterion of personal fouls per game (PFPG) was examined . Z-score analyses revealed that referees called more PFPG against the HBCU of TSU in men’s college basketball relative to the number of PFPG that were called against the PWI conference teams in the OVC. A similar effect was observed in women’s college basketball. Theoretical implications for the cultural approach to organizations were noted in the study discussion as were practical implications for TSU and other HBCUs.

The current study analyzed source credibility in a sports related context. A review of previous literature was undertaken in order to highlight the central findings focused on the dimensions of competence, goodwill, and trustworthiness. Quantitative methods were then utilized as a means to empirically test whether unconfirmed reports of performance-enhancing drug use could negatively impact perceptions of athlete ethos. Findings revealed that athletes who were inconclusively linked to performance-enhancers were evaluated less favorably in terms of their overall competence, goodwill, and trustworthiness. The implications from this study indicate that clean athletes who are wrongfully accused should proactively communicate their innocence to the general public. Athletes who are not clean should employ various face and image restoration strategies in order to effectively manage their public credibility. Study limitations and directions for future research were appropriately addressed within the present scholarship.

This research examined the ball-handling errors that referees called against historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in Division I women’s college volleyball. A ball-handling error is an impermissible nonverbal communicative act such as a ball being lifted, a ball being thrown, or a ball being double hit. Previous research on referee bias was reviewed. Expectancy violations theory served as the theoretical frame because it focuses on nonverbal behaviors and how a message receiver responds to violations. Using publicly available data, this research sought to draw points of comparison between HBCUs and predominantly White institutions. The uncovered data revealed that referees called more ball-handling errors per set against HBCUs relative to predominantly White institutions. Furthermore, only HBCU conferences were penalized at a statistically significant level, while no predominantly White institution conferences were penalized at a statistically significant level. Theoretical implications for expectancy violations theory and practical implications for HBCUs were the focus of the study discussion.

This study concentrated on small group communication amongst Deaf basketball players. The central aim of the current research was to explore how outsiders perceive the communication of Deaf athletes who communicate via American Sign Language (ASL) in the sport of college basketball. Cultural identity theory (CIT) provided a theoretical foundation for the current research, while the extant literature on small groups was discussed to provide insight on intrateam messages. The participants in this study completed a pretest that centered on sports communication, partook in a distraction exercise, were informed they were analyzing Deaf athletes who communicate in ASL, and then completed a post-test that centered on sports communication. One of the main findings was that Deaf basketball players were perceived to share messages of acceptance with one another. Additional results revealed that Deaf basketball players were perceived to resolve conflict in a positive manner and were less likely to engage in negative conflict while communicating with teammates. Implications for CIT were a focal point in the study discussion as were practical implications tied to effective communication in team sports.

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