Research Methods In Sport Management

Research Methods and Design in Sport Management, Second Edition, explains research design, implementation, and assessment criteria with a focus on procedures unique to the discipline of sport management.

Research methods courses have become a compulsory component of most degree programs in sport management. This is the first introductory research methods textbook to focus exclusively on sport management. Through the use of examples, cases and data taken from the real world of sport management it opens up a traditionally dry area of study, helping the student to understand the vital importance of sound methodology in their studies and subsequent professional practice. The book covers the full range of quantitative and qualitative methods across the whole span of the research process, from research design and the literature review to data analysis and report writing. Every chapter contains a range of useful features to aid student learning, including summaries, discussion questions and guides to further resources, as well as examples drawn from contemporary sport around the world. Research Methods for Sport Management is an essential course text for all sport management students and an invaluable reference for any sport management professional involved in operational research.

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.

Research can be a challenging but rewarding activity. All degree-level students studying sport, and all effective professionals working in the sport sector need to have a sound understanding of research methods and how to critically interpret research findings. This broad-ranging, in-depth and practical textbook introduces research methods for students on sport-related degree courses, outlining the knowledge and practical skills needed to undertake meaningful research and to become a knowledgeable consumer of the research of others. The book explores every element of the research process, from the fundamental ‘what, why and who?’ questions, through research plans, literature review, qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and data analysis, to the communication of research results. It offers a critical appraisal of alternative methods, including mixed methods, as well as clear guidance on how to use each particular method. Every chapter contains test questions and practical exercises, detailed case studies, a clear chapter summary and extensive guides to further sport-related study resources, to enable students to check their understanding and develop, extend and apply their practical skills. Step-by-step introductions to the use of the key statistical packages Excel, SPSS and NVivo in sport research are included. On-line support materials include some 400 PowerPoint slides and copies of data-sets used in the book. With deeper and broader coverage than any other sport-related research methods textbook, and a clear focus on ‘how to do it’, Research Methods for Sport Studies and Sport Management is an essential companion for any sport-related degree course.

Filled with helpful figures and charts, this first-of-its-kind textbook is a vital resource for students, teachers, and industry professionals. The authors are all expert researchers in their areas of specialisation and have written extensively in both books and journals. Their current roles in teaching college-level courses have allowed them to understand exactly how to tailor research methods to the topic of sport management and to compile the important information presented here. Unique Features: Sound guidelines to learning and building knowledge and skills in doing research; Practical and useful examples from the real world of sport business; Organised presentation of research methods from the most basic to the complex; Inclusion of timely issues of ethics in research practice and reporting; Emphasis on sound decision-making in research practice; A research process model that guides from question development through to research method and application; Study questions and learning activities in each chapter.

Now in a fully revised and updated second edition, Research Methods for Sport Management provides a complete introduction to qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods for sport management students and practitioners. Full of real-world case studies, data, and examples, and including international perspectives throughout this book to help the reader understand the challenges of research in different social and cultural contexts, this book links theory to practice, highlighting the importance of research skills in the contemporary sport industry. This book outlines an eight-step research framework that makes the research process easy to understand and that can be followed by beginners and built upon by more advanced researchers. It covers the full research process from research design and literature review to data analysis and report writing, with a strong emphasis throughout this book on new digital, online, and social media methods. This new edition includes extended coverage of topics such as research ethics, gender in research, intersectional research, Web 3.0, data visualization, research impact, and advanced statistical techniques, and considers the differing requirements of sport-related research across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. With improved features to enhance teaching and learning, including a research f low chart, review questions, topical case studies, and PowerPoint slides, this is an essential textbook for any research methods course taken as part of a degree course in sport business and management, sport development, or sport marketing, and an invaluable toolkit for any managers, leaders, or analysts working in the sport industry.

Good qualitative research can help sport management researchers and industry professionals solve difficult problems and better understand their organisations, stakeholders and performance. Now in a fully revised and extended new edition, this book is a user-friendly introduction to qualitative methods in sport management. Covering the full research process from research planning to reporting results, this edition includes expanded coverage of cutting-edge areas including digital and social media research, critical realism, and social network analysis. The book examines the reflective and interrogative processes required for developing effective qualitative research questions and includes a deeper discussion of ontology and epistemology in the light of today’s rapidly changing society. It takes the reader step-by-step through essential and emerging qualitative methods, from actor network theory and ethnography to computer-assisted data analysis and sampling typologies. Every chapter includes examples of real qualitative research, including shorter "research briefs" and extended case studies, reflecting the exciting qualitative research that is currently occurring in sport business and management, and highlighting the links between research and sport management practice. This is essential reading for courses in sport management, sport business, sport policy, sport marketing, sport media, and communications. It provides students, researchers, and practitioners with the knowledge and skills to undertake qualitative research while deepening their understanding of how the social world can be perceived and interpreted through a particular theoretical lens. Useful online materials include recommended readings and PowerPoint slides.