Research Methods and Design in Sport Management explains research design, implementation, analysis, and assessment criteria with a focus on specific procedures unique to the discipline of sport management. The text is an invaluable resource for students and practitioners in sport management because it focuses on applied research for organizational purposes and the qualitative and quantitative methodologies pertinent to the field of sport management. Organized in four parts, Research Methods and Design in Sport Management begins with an introduction to concepts in sport management research and a discussion of the ethical issues associated with research projects. The text outlines the steps to the research process, making it an easy-to-use guide for professionals undertaking a research project as well as students writing major term papers, theses, or dissertations. Analysis of research design with discussion of specific methods used in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research helps readers to determine and design the most appropriate research for their specific needs. This text teaches readers the following concepts and skills: • How to conduct a thorough literature review • Theoretical and conceptual frameworks to guide the research process • How to develop appropriate research questions and hypotheses • Techniques for conducting qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research • Methods for analyzing data and reporting results Multiple special elements in each chapter, including learning objectives, summaries, suggested advanced readings, and highlight boxes, guide readers through challenging concepts. A chapter dedicated to legal research in sport management provides a nonintimidating discussion of the unique elements evident in sport law research, such as legal precedence, case briefing, and special writing elements. Examples of published research in sport management illustrate ways in which various methodological tools and techniques can be used in answering research questions. Research in Action sections present excerpts from the Journal of Sport Management, which highlight research components mentioned in the text and assist students in learning how to read and evaluate research. In addition, all research examples provided throughout the text are specific to sport management, considering both sport industry settings and academic environments. Research Methods and Design in Sport Management offers readers the tools to engage in the broad spectrum of research opportunities in the growing discipline of sport management. As accreditation in sport management becomes more prevalent, Research Methods and Design in Sport Management can assist students in gaining the knowledge and skills they need in order to compete in the job market and to contribute to their future careers. For professionals, the text offers tools to ensure the research they conduct and consume can accurately inform strategic business decisions.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the attributes most influential in consumers’ online ticket buying experiences. Using conjoint analysis, eight scenario profiles were created in order to gauge fan preferences when purchasing sport event tickets online. Attributes included (a) timing of ticket purchase, (b) seating availability, (c) price fluctuations, (d) associated fees, (e) number of pricepoints, (f) fraud risk, and (g) price valuation assessment. Data were collected from 469 attendees at a major sport event and part worths for each attribute were calculated to determine which factors held greater importance when all seven were considered concurrently. For the sample overall, results indicated the risk of buying fraudulent tickets was far and away the most influential aspect consumers consider when purchasing sport event tickets online. Comparisons were also made based on whether tickets were purchased from the primary or secondary market, the price paid for the tickets, and the timing of ticket purchase. Results indicated consumer segmentation by these criteria result in distinct buyer profiles.

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This article uses television ratings from the 2006 and 2007 National Football League (NFL) seasons to estimate viewer demand in large markets without local teams. The factors that are found to be statistically significant and positively related determinants of television ratings are: team quality and age; the closest team in proximity to the market; late-season contests; and having teams such as the Cowboys and Patriots as participants. Concurrent game telecasts and contests involving unevenly matched teams are negatively related to viewership.

Published 4 decades ago, “Basking in Reflected Glory: Three (Football) Field Studies” (Cialdini et al., 1976) is the most influential study of sport consumer behavior. This article features re-creations of Studies 1 and 2, exactly 40 years after the original publication. The results of Study 1 were reproduced, with participants more than twice as likely to wear school-affiliated apparel after wins and 55% less likely after losses. The study also extends the BIRGing literature in its investigation of the influence of gender and the effect’s salience over time. Study 2’s results were not reproduced. However, study participants were significantly more likely to use first-person plural pronouns, providing further empirical evidence of BIRGing behaviors. This article makes a novel contribution to the sport consumer behavior literature by advancing the study of one of the field’s most foundational theories and serving as an impetus for future investigations of BIRGing motivations.