A Mixed-Method Approach to Exploring the Motives of Sport-Related Mobile Applications Among College Students

Abstract

The popularity of smartphones has led to the creation of sport-related mobile applications in the areas of games, fitness, information, and events for sport consumers. The main purpose of this study was to examine why college students use sport-related mobile applications and what benefits they received from their usage. The study employed the Motivation Scale for Sport Online Consumption and the Technology Acceptance Model to understand this usage in more detail. Using a mixed-method approach, the study revealed that college students identified fanship, convenience, and information as primary motives for using their sport-related mobile applications. For college students who are sport fans, supporting their fanship through these applications represents an important aspect of their lifestyle. Sport managers and sport application developers will benefit from understanding users' intentions and motives as the market for sport-related applications continues to grow.

Promoting built-for-disaster-purpose mobile applications: An interdisciplinary literature review to increase their penetration rate among tourists

“…Studies investigating the adoption of ICTs have primarily applied different theoretical models and theories ( Palau-Saumell et al, 2019 ), such as the theory of reasoned action (TRA), the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the technology acceptance model (TAM), the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) 1 and 2, the innovation diffusion theory (IDT), and the social cognitive theory (SCT) ( Song et al, 2018 ). The TRA has been developed to study human behavior from a social psychology perspective by considering one's feeling toward a specific behavior (attitude) and their perception regarding other people's perspective about that specific behavior (subjective norms; Kang, Ha, & Hambrick, 2015 ). According to the TPB ( Ajzen, 1991 ), people are likely to carry out a particular type of behavior if they believe it will lead to a valued outcome (attitude), their important referents will value and approve of the behavior (subjective norms), and they have the necessary resources, abilities, and opportunities to perform such behavior (perceived behavioral control) ( Quintal et al, 2010 ).…”

“…According to the TPB ( Ajzen, 1991 ), people are likely to carry out a particular type of behavior if they believe it will lead to a valued outcome (attitude), their important referents will value and approve of the behavior (subjective norms), and they have the necessary resources, abilities, and opportunities to perform such behavior (perceived behavioral control) ( Quintal et al, 2010 ). Expanding on the TRA and TPB, Davis' (1989) technology adoption model (TAM) aims at predicting users' intention to use emerging technology ( Kang et al, 2015 ). The TAM has been largely used to analyze why and how people decide to adopt emerging technology ( Kang et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Expanding on the TRA and TPB, Davis' (1989) technology adoption model (TAM) aims at predicting users' intention to use emerging technology ( Kang et al, 2015 ). The TAM has been largely used to analyze why and how people decide to adopt emerging technology ( Kang et al, 2015 ). This model is based on two main constructs: perceived usefulness and perceived ease.…”

“…Perceived usefulness is “the degree to which a person believes that using a particular system would enhance his or her job performance” ( Davis, 1989 , p. 320), and perceived ease of use is “the degree to which a person believes that using a particular system would be free of effort” ( Davis, 1989 , p. 320). In other words, a user would be more prone to accept and use technology if it is perceived as easy to use and useful ( Kang et al, 2015 ). However, this model has been criticized by several authors highlighting the impossibility for the two variables to address other important psychological factors that may influence users' decisions to adopt technology as a limitation ( Kang et al, 2015 ; Park, Kim, Shon, & Shim, 2013 ).…”

Corporate social responsibility and college sports fans’ online donations

“…Finally, athletic administrators should develop a variety of useful and diverse benefit options (i.e., receiving services), such as mobile coupons for merchandise, access to use stadiums or arenas for events, or on-site services to enhance fan experience, in addition to traditional benefits such as free parking or discount tickets. Many fans are using smartphone and purchasing merchandise through a mobile payment system (Kang et al, 2015). Mobile coupons can be attractive benefits for potential donors (Nageswarakurukkal et al, 2019).…”