Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions Of Sport Fandom As A Means Of Meeting Psychological Needs, Daniel L. Wann Phd

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

The current study examined the use of sport fandom and team identification to assist in meeting four basic psychological needs: belonging, distinctiveness, structure, and meaning. The results indicated that fans view both general sport fandom and team identification as having the capability of helping them meet each of the needs, especially the need to belong. Additionally, team identification was believed to be more effective in assisting with the need for distinctiveness than was general sport fandom.

The Impact Of Major Sporting Events In Kalamazoo On Consumer Behavior, Nicholas Biel

Honors Theses

Sporting events are a force in the growth and sustainability of a community’s economy. In a market like Kalamazoo, collegiate football games such as those at Western Michigan University and annual events like the Kalamazoo Marathon play a pivotal role in bolstering the economy. This research demonstrates the effects on consumer behavior at restaurants in Kalamazoo, Michigan that are caused by these major sporting events. By examining data from the platform Placer.ai, and conducting interviews with local restaurants, this research examines trends in consumer habits, movements, and engagement. Placer.ai is a platform that tracks location analytics using data collected anonymously …

Faculty Perceptions Of Soft And Hard Skills In Sport Management Curricula, Jonathan Rosenberg Ed.D., Simon M. Pack

The COSMA Journal

While employers still see the value in accessing hard skills, the current hiring process involves placing a greater emphasis on the transferable skills known as soft skills. These soft skills include critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, written and oral communication, and the ability to research independently. As such, hiring managers suggest the onus for developing soft skills rest with faculty as they equip these future employees with the soft skills necessary for a given role or industry. There exists an abundance of research in skill development and employability from the vantage point of the employer and of the graduating student, however, …

Integrating A Practical Sport Analytics Course Into Sport Management Education, Bradley Congelio

The COSMA Journal

Integrating analytics into sport management curricula has become increasingly crucial as the sport industry embraces data-driven decision-making. However, many programs struggle to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in analytics education. This paper presents a comprehensive approach to teaching sport analytics that emphasizes hands-on experience with data using the R programming language and RStudio. The course structure and content described herein focus on leveraging the tidyverse ecosystem and National Football League (NFL) data to immerse students in conducting sport analytics. By progressing through modules on data manipulation, visualization, web scraping, and statistical analysis, students acquire both the …

Wearable Technology In Intercollegiate Sport: Ethical And Legal Considerations Of Collecting Student-Athlete Biometric Data, Taryn Deshane

Honors Theses

As wearable technology becomes increasingly integrated into athletic performance tracking, questions surrounding privacy, consent, and data ownership emerge. This research investigates how universities and athletic organizations navigate the complex issues surrounding athlete biometric data (ABD) collection and usage, with a particular emphasis on intercollegiate athletics. While the use of biometric data is widespread across both professional and amateur sports, this study hones in on the college sports environment, examining how ABD is collected, the ethical concerns it raises, and how it impacts student-athletes and institutions.

This pilot study centers on student-athletes at Western Michigan University, specifically focusing on Division 1 …

Beyond Amateurism: Examining The Potential Labor Expenses Of Ncaa Student-Athlete Employment, Alayna K. Falak, Tyler L. Custis

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

In light of recent administrative developments urging the classification of student-athletes as employees, litigation challenging the current employment status of student-athletes, and the Supreme Court’s willingness to tackle National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) issues, many questions surrounding the future of college sports under an employment model have emerged. The authors analyzed key litigation, recent developments from administrative agencies, and academic literature. The authors used publicly available data from the NCAA, the United States Department of Labor (DOL), and other sources to construct two estimates of what it would cost NCAA member institutions to provide baseline compensation to their Division I …

Space Operations Education Research: Studying Undergraduate Experiences As Predictors Of Early Career Performance For Military Space Operations Officers, Keith Balts

All Dissertations

Undergraduate students who go on to operate space systems, e.g., satellites, launch systems, and ground-based systems, come from a diverse set of demographics and undergraduate experiences. The United States Space Force (USSF), and United States Air Force (USAF) before them, like many professions, have a demonstrated interest in who enters their ranks, but have had limited research available to them to inform their recruiting, selection, training, and early career development policies and processes.

This Profession-Based Education Research study, a term introduced here in contrast to Discipline-Based Education Research, focused on the military space operations profession. This study analyzed newly commissioned …

Voluntary Early Retirement From Sport: The Lived Experiences Of Former Ncaa Diii Student-Athletes, Lindsey Darvin, Ryan Konotopskyj, Ashley Ryder

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Intercollegiate athletics offer amateur athletes an approximately four-year window to pursue their athletic careers (Hodges & Darvin, 2022). While many athletes complete their full eligibility, some choose to retire early (Zvosec & Bass, 2022). At the NCAA Division III level, motivations for early retirement remain unclear, and the experiences of former student-athletes are often overlooked (Zvosec & Bass, 2022; Hodges & Darvin, 2022). Despite DIVISION III's large athlete population, research seldom delves into their experiences. This study aims to explore why former Division III athletes voluntarily leave their sport. Transitioning out of collegiate sports poses significant challenges, affecting athletes' identities, …

The Challenges Women Face In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu In The United States, Rachel S. Silverman, Anthony Dixon, Harriet E T Dixon

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The purpose of this case study was to discover the challenges facing women participating in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the United States, how they overcame these challenges, and why they continue to participate in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Twenty-three female jiu-jitsu athletes participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews using open-ended questions were utilized. Analysis of challenges revealed three broader themes of Brazilian jiu-jitsu being male-dominated, gender norms and Brazilian jiu-jitsu being a contact sport. Women discussed how they coped with the challenges and the benefits they gain from participation. To increase the number of women involved in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, participants suggested more women’s-only …

The Fight In And Out The Ring For Mexican American Women Boxers, Melody Alanis, George B. Cunningham, Natasha T. Brison

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

In the context of the United States (US) sport sector, particularly within the boxing domain, a prevalent hypermasculine culture has been widely observed. Despite this prevalence, there exists a significant gap in research: addressing the shared experiences of Latinas, specifically Mexican American women boxers in the US. To bridge this divide, the authors employ a qualitative study utilizing Latin Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) as the primary theoretical framework to further investigate the boxing experiences of Mexican American women inside and outside the ring. The study engaged ten participants in semi-structured interviews, while additionally collecting data from their respective boxing gyms' …

Navigating The Transition: Factors Impacting Academic Success And Challenges Faced By First Semester Student Athletes In College, Joseph Milone Edd, Deb Risisky Phd, Jim Macgregor Edd

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The purpose of this study was to better understand the factors that influenced first-semester college-athletes’ ability to succeed academically in the transition to collegiate life, focusing specifically on not only the factors that contributed to academic success but also those the athletes considered to be challenges or barriers during their first semester in college. Interviews (N = 9) were conducted with first-year college-athletes at a Division II regional university in the northeast United States over a two-year period to identify not only the factors that contributed to academic success but also those the athletes considered to be challenges or …

2024-11-15 Agenda Book, Morehead State University. Board Of Regents.

Morehead State Board of Regents Agenda Books and Meeting Minutes

Agenda book for the Board of Regents meeting of November 15, 2024, which include the Audit Committee meeting agenda and the Board meeting minutes for October 11, 2024.

An Analysis Of Racial Tasking And Other Sport Management Theories Through The Lived Experiences Of Black College Football Coaches, Trevor Bopp, Robert Turick

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The purpose of this study was to explore Black coaches’ (N = 17) perceptions of the academic research that purports to shed light on their experiences in college football. In sharing their lived experiences, coaches discussed the racial inequalities they have and continue to overcome to enter, remain, and advance in coaching; considered the existence and influence of racial tasking; and provided their thoughts on sport management research. In doing so, they remarked about many of the racialized barriers and disparate outcomes which we have hypothesized, analyzed, interpreted, and written about in our academic work. Implications from this study provide …

Framing Foreignness In Sports: The Effect Of Text And Image Frames On Attitudes Toward Australian College Punters, James Bingaman

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

In recent years, there has been an influx of Australian college punters receiving significant media attention. This media coverage often emphasizes these athlete’s “foreignness” by relying on cultural stereotypes. Existing research has shown that the framing of athletes – both text and image frames – can influence individuals’ attitudes and perceptions. Using a 2 x 3 (two textual frames x three visual frames) experimental design, this study sought to test the effects of “foreignness” framing on attitudes toward Australian punters and punters more broadly. The results offer several directions for sports media scholars to examine media effects related to the …

“We Need To Do More” To “This Is All Bullsh**” : A Continuum Of Race-Related Social Media Activism In College Athletics, Natalie N. Bunch, Lauren Beasley, Beth Cianfrone

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member institutions have addressed social issues, such as racial justice, via team or athletic department social media platforms. Often the social media strategy is managed by a content creator within the athletic department. However, coaching staff members may be concerned with what is posted to team or athletic department accounts because of the public facing nature of their job, their use of social media in recruitment efforts, and their role in creating a positive environment for current athletes. We surveyed 128 coaches across divisions to determine perceptions of their athletic department’s race-related activism on social …

Enhancing Event Reputations: Insights And Recommendations For Secure And Engaging Experiences, Emma Carroll, Catriona Murphy Dr.

ICHRIE Research Reports

This research report presents evidence-based recommendations derived from focus group research to enhance the reputable value of events for practitioners in the industry. The study highlights the increasing pressure on event planners to prioritize attendee safety amidst external threats such as terrorism, pandemics, and ongoing conflicts. The findings emphasize the significant impact of these challenges on attendee behavior and perceptions, necessitating a balance between ensuring safety and delivering enjoyable event experiences. Key recommendations include the development of online reputation management protocols and the integration of semiotic analysis to align event messaging with audience expectations. These interventions seek to equip event …

Would You Pay An Insta-Doctor A Visit? Social Media Personal Brands And Young Consumer Perception, Małgorzata Szwed

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Technological developments and the broad availability of the Internet provide constant access to social media for users. These platforms are used to communicate with friends as well as to follow other users and brands. Also, physicians have public social media profiles on which they publish both professional and personal content. The objective of the paper is to explore and understand customers’ perception of physicians’ social media use. To obtain the purpose, a qualitative research method was adopted that involved 12 semistructured interviews with people who followed physicians’ profiles on social media. The study identifies three consumer groups: social media enthusiasts, …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lack Of Preparedness Of Recent Graduates In Sports Management Businesses In The Northeastern United States, Daria M. Mickowski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to facilitate a better understanding of the competitive nature of private sports management businesses that provide coaches and sports programming for school systems and townships. The problem investigated by the study involved how the significant lack of preparedness of recent sports management/education graduates in the northeastern United States impacts professional development and the ability of organizations to compete, reduce undesirable turnover, and retain talent. The purpose of the study was to understand why recent sports management/education graduates were unprepared in three critical areas: leadership capability, managing interpersonal conflict, and effectiveness in working on diverse teams. A qualitative …

How A Nonprofit Turned To Retail To Help Fulfill Its Mission, Donna M. Iucolano Ph.D., Erika Sanchez, Brianna Macias, Bridget Walters

Business: Faculty Presentations

This paper presents the results of student efforts in a Spring 2024 undergraduate Capstone course at Molloy University’s School of Business. During the semester, 15 students worked in three teams to address an opportunity for Backyard Players & Friends (BYP), a nonprofit organization based in Rockville Centre (Long Island), New York dedicated to inclusivity for people 14+ years old. To help fulfill its mission, BYP opened a retail store named Front Porch Market (FPM). As FPM celebrated its one-year anniversary, students were asked to help BYP increase store revenue by improving merchandising and marketing efforts, and by offering support to …

Driving Visitor Acquisition And Engagement For A New Museum Celebrating The History Of Disabilities, Donna M. Iucolano Ph.D., Harley Maresca, Ishita Sharma

Business: Faculty Presentations

The authors summarize the efforts and results of students in an undergraduate Capstone course at Molloy University’s School of Business. In the Fall 2023 semester, 15 students worked in three teams to help The Viscardi Center plan for a one-of-a-kind national museum celebrating the history of disabilities. Viscardi is an acclaimed Long Island (NY) based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, employing, and empowering children, adults, and veterans with disabilities or similar needs. To help executives with planning, students conducted research on attracting institutional visitors and individuals, families, and tourists; and, developed themes for compelling exhibits with supporting educational content for …

The Mental Health Literacy Of Ncaa College Coaches: Knowledge, Beliefs, And Resources, Lauren Beasley, Steven Hoffman, Jackson Sears

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college athletes in the United States (U.S.) are at risk for diminished mental health, and stigma may be a barrier to these athletes seeking professional mental health care. Coaches can create a team environment that prioritizes athlete mental health and destigmatizes help-seeking; however, this requires coaches to have appropriate mental health knowledge, operationalized as mental health literacy (MHL). Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to explore three different constructs of MHL of NCAA coaches across Divisions I, II, and III. The Multicomponent Mental Health Literacy Scale (MMHLS), which measures MHL within three domains—knowledge, …

An Exploration Of Factors Impacting First-Generation College Athlete Retention At Small Colleges And Universities, Adam R. Cocco, Alan Grosbach

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Retention is an increasing area of concern for higher education institutions as enrollments continue to decrease. This is especially germane for small colleges and universities given their lower enrollments and limited resources. First-generation students and college athletes are populations with enhanced susceptibility to attrition due to additional challenges and burdens placed upon them as they navigate the college environment. Therefore, there is a need to understand the factors influencing retention among those at the intersection of these student demographics. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of individual (gender, race, and academic performance) and athletic (financial aid, …

Investigating Ticket Price Determination Of Collegiate Athletics: Insights From Pricing Professionals In Non-Football Bowl Subdivision Schools, Jason D. Reese, Yang Xu

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

This study aims to investigate how ticket prices are set in Division I (DI) college athletics, how the individuals making pricing decisions perceive the purpose of athletics, what objectives pricing managers are trying to achieve with both revenue and non-revenue sports, and the factors that influence how the final price is set. Structured interviews were conducted with 12 athletic department external operations staff from 12 non-FBS DI institutions, representing seven different conferences. Results showed that price is determined through either a bottom-up hierarchical model or a committee-based model. Patronage-Oriented objectives were shown to dominate the pricing strategy in non-FBS programs, …

Determinants Of The Returns To Sports Cards, Evidence From The Nba, George Langelett

Mountain Plains Business Conference

This is the first study to investigate the role of NBA player performance on the value of NBA rookie cards of Basketball athletes. Previous studies have found that a player’s race does not affect the price of one’s rookie card. This is the first study to investigate the impact of performance variables, including points per game, rebounds, assists, and steals significantly affect a player’s salary, as well as one’s race, signing a new contract, winning a championship, and appearing in the “all-star” game on the annual change in price of one’s rookie card during the same time period. Utilizing data …

The Value Of Cosma Outcomes: Student Learning Outcomes, Transferable Skills And Taxonomy Levels, Coral Bender, Lindsey Maxwell

The COSMA Journal

Using a content analysis of all published Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) of Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) accredited programs, the current study analyzes SLOs to assess the most frequently used measurable verbs (utilizing a revised version of Blooms’ Taxonomy) and transferable skills (utilizing the definitions provided by AAC&U’s VALUE Outcomes and their corresponding rubrics) emphasized by accredited programs. An analysis of the most common Taxonomy Levels is presented at the aggregate level as well as a comparison between undergraduate and graduate education to provide a case study of SLO measurable verb alignment across accredited sport management programs. Further, content …

Perception Of Recreational Water Quality In The Scholarly Literature: Where Have We Been & Where Should We Go, Xavier Alberto Basurto Cendeno

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores existing literature and research themes between water quality and recreational participation through use of a bibliometric analysis with content analysis. It identifies key researchers, institutions, and themes that have shaped the field. Despite the growing body of research, gaps remain in understanding the state of the research on this important topic. By analyzing trends and how these trends have changed over time, this study aims to offer insights for future research agendas. Ultimately, the findings will inform strategies for improving water quality management and fostering more resilient, timely water-based recreational research.

Reuse Intentions For Carsharing Services: A Hierarchical Model Of Perceived Benefits, Risks, And Individual Differences, Bo Liu, Sang-Eun Byun, Sookeun Byun

Asia Marketing Journal

This study employs a hierarchical component model to examine reuse intentions among experienced carsharing service users in South Korea, focusing on how various perceptions of benefits and risks impact their decisions. It also explores the influences of self-efficacy, gender, and service usage experience on these perceptions and reuse intentions. Findings highlight that male users are primarily driven by functional benefits such as accessibility and convenience, whereas female users are more responsive to hedonic benefits. Users with high self-efficacy prioritize economic benefits, whereas those with more usage experience prioritize functional benefits. Additionally, social risks significantly deter reuse intentions predominantly among male …

Sport Social Hub: Using The Power Of Collaboration To Develop Hands-On Social Media Competencies, Alisa Agozzino, Brendan O'Hallarn, Peyton Stensland, James Strode

The COSMA Journal

This paper introduces Sport Social Hub, a collaborative, multi-institutional social media exchange inspired by the Commission on Public Relations Education's (CPRE) emphasis on key knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) in public relations education. Sport Social Hub engaged students from four universities in topical, sports-themed assignments. These assignments involved creating memes, analyzing historical and contemporary sports photographs, profiling industry professionals with infographics, and developing engagement contests. The paper outlines how Sport Social Hub addresses CPRE's recommended KSAs within social media, collaboration, and creative thinking. Utilizing social media platforms as pedagogical tools, Sport Social Hub aimed to enhance students' social media competencies, …

A Survey Of High School Athletic Directors And Implications For Sport Management Programs, Jon Coles Phd, Sally Ross Phd, Dana Munk Phd, Brian Roberts Ma

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Many undergraduate sport management students are interested in a career in interscholastic athletics; some students complete degree required internships in school settings, where they receive receiving mentoring from athletic directors (ADs) and assistant athletic directors. To best prepare sport management students for these jobs, it is necessary to obtain clarity about requisite job skills for interscholastic ADs. In addition, examining the academic training and career paths of current ADs can help sport management educators advise students who wish to work in interscholastic athletic administration. As a field with a diverse array of career options, it is imperative to know how …

A Linkedin Analysis: Job Placement For Students In Sport Management Program Of An Eastern Kentucky Public University, Jose Garcia, Steve S. Chen, Christy L. Trent

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

In addition to standardized tests and program assessments of academic programs, tracking college alums’ employment is also deemed an effective method for measuring student learning and success. In this case study, the authors examined 251 students’ LinkedIn profiles by using main keywords such as the name of the institution and sport management to gather information about current employment status, degree of program completion, and primary self-identified skills of observed individuals. The results indicated that about 72.3% of 347 graduates (n = 251) from 2007 to 2022 had a completed profile and job employment. However, only about 37% held a …