3,402 research outputs found
Escapism motive for sport consumption as a predictor of meaning in life
No full textThe objective of this study was to examine whether spectator escapism motive for sport consumption could predict meaning in life, and to explore the role of psychological ownership in this relationship. A sample of 806 football spectators (African = 85%, male = 67.4%, Sesotho = 26.2%) completed the Motivation Scale for Sport Consumption (MSSC), the South African Psychological Ownership Questionnaire (SAPOS) and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). Structural equation modelling was utilised to investigate the postulated paths of the structural model. Escapism motive for sport consumption predicted meaning in life among spectators through psychological ownership. The sports escapism motive can yield positive psychological outcomes for sports fans
A case for loyalty-based relational business models: Assessing direct - and mediating effects of the Net Promoter Score (NPS) metric in commercial football consumption decisions
No full textAlthough the Net Promoter Score (NPS) consumer metric as proposed by Reichheld (2003) has been established as a pragmatic commercial revenue indicator in business management, empirical scrutiny of the measure remains limited. Moreover, scholars have criticised the simplistic and generalised approach of NPS; which some argue lack scientific robustness. In this study, an evaluation of the NPS is made in the context of professional football consumerism in South Africa in an effort to evaluate the empirical rigour of the metric. With the theoretical context of loyalty-based business models and relationship marketing as departure point, a measurement and structural model was evaluated with direct paths specified between NPS and consumer expenditure, as well as indirect paths with NPS postulated as a mediator to activate purchasing behaviours in a nomological network that included the traditional sport consumption motives. 2465 adult fans of one of the country's best supported and most established professional football clubs participated in the study. A cross-sectional, exploratory and quantitative research design was utilised. Respondents were requested to complete self-report measures that were uploaded onto a specially designed digital interface made available on the club Facebook page. Structural equation modelling was used to assess the research model by evaluating goodness of fit statistics for the measurement model and evaluating direct and indirect paths between the variables under investigation. Results suggested that NPS is a direct predictor of consumer expenditure. It also provided evidence that NPS may mediate between sport consumption motives and expenditure. The results of the study are discussed, with recommendations made for the future
Assessing the organisational and individual strengths use and deficit improvement amongst sport coaches
No full textOrientation: The orientation of this study is towards strengths use and deficit improvement and the relationship with engagement. Research purpose: To (1) determine whether adapted versions of the Strengths Use and Deficit Improvement Questionnaire (SUDIQ) and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) are valid and reliable, (2) determine the relationship of the SUDIQ dimensions in the nomological net, and (3) test a structural model. Motivation for the study: To gain a better understanding of the outcomes of following a balanced approach within a sport coaching context. Research design, approach and method: A cross-sectional research approach was used. An availability sample (N = 364) of teachers occupying roles as sport coaches from various schools across three provinces in South Africa was used. Structural equation modelling was used to test the factor structures and the structural model. Main findings: The results indicated a valid factor structure for the adapted SUDIQ and UWES. Relationships between the SUDIQ dimensions and job and personal resources were positive and significant. Individual strengths use was the strongest predictor of engagement. Individual deficit improvement and organisational strengths use were also significant predictors. Organisational deficit improvement did not significantly predict engagement. Practical/managerial implications: Evidence suggests the adapted SUDIQ and UWES can be utilised effectively in a sport coaching environment. Organisational strengths use is also important in managing engagement levels of sport coaches. Contribution/value-add: Valid and reliable measures were provided for use in a sport coaching environment. It substantiates the outcomes that can be gained by following a combined approach based on strength and deficithttp://www.sajip.co.za/index.php/sajiphttp://www.sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/1160/1450http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v39i2.116
Authentic leadership as a source of optimism, trust in the organisation and work engagement in the public health care sector
No full textOrientation: The orientation of this study is towards authentic leadership (AL) and its influence on optimism, trust in the organisation and work engagement of employees in the public health care sector.
Research purpose: The objectives of this study were to determine whether the leadership style of AL could predict optimism, trust in the organisation and work engagement amongst a large sample of employees from various functions in public hospitals and clinics in Gauteng and to establish whether optimism and trust in the organisation could mediate the relationship between AL and work engagement.
Research approach, design and method: A convenience sample of 633 public health employees from various functions within 27 public hospitals and clinics in the province was used in this research. A cross-sectional research design was implemented. Structural equation modelling was utilised to investigate the Authentic Leadership Inventory (ALI), and the validity and fit of the measurement model, to position AL as a job resource within the nomological net and to test its mediating effects.
Main findings: The statistical analysis revealed that AL was a significant predictor of optimism and trust in the organisation and that optimism and trust in the organisation mediated the relationship between AL and work engagement.
Practical/managerial implications: The research results suggested that organisations in the public health care sector should encourage their managers to adopt a more authentic leadership style. This will lead to higher levels of optimism, trust in the organisation and eventually work engagement. This will greatly assist employees in the domain of public health care to manage their demanding working environment.
Contribution: This study provides evidence that the ALI can be used reliably within the South African context and specifically within the public health care sector. It further substantiates for the implementation of AL as a leadership style in the South African public health care sector, supporting work that has been done internationally in health care where AL has been associated with a number of positive outcomes. Finally, the study puts forward two practical suggestions, on both an individual and an organisational level, to facilitate a culture in which AL can be translated more effectively into an engaged workforce
Pathways to flourishing of athletes: the role of team and individual strength use
No full textInformation is needed regarding the antecedents and outcomes of flourishing, particularly in sports contexts, where the study of this optimal well-being state has remained largely unexplored. This study examined the role of strength use to facilitate flourishing, enhance team embeddedness, and counter withdrawal behaviour of athletes. It further investigated the role of flourishing to retain athletes to their sport and teams and examined the role of team embeddedness in this relationship. A cross-sectional research design was utilised with structural equation modelling to assess model fit and examine postulated relationships. The sample comprised 235 student athletes. The results suggested that team strength use predicts flourishing. It further revealed positive paths to team embeddedness from both individual and team strength use. Flourishing was also positively related to team embeddedness. Lastly, a negative association was found between team embeddedness and withdrawal behaviour among the athletes
Towards engagement: A comparison of fan groups in the context of a major South African football club
No full textOrientation: The commercial growth of sport clubs is often a direct consequence of the level of engagement of its fans. However, limited research has been done to understand how the engagement experience of these fans could be enhanced.
Research purpose: The objective of this research was to evaluate whether differences exist amongst groups of sport fans in terms of their levels of engagement. This is conducted on the basis of customer engagement – relationship marketing – and market segmentation theories,and in an effort to inform practical strategies that could be used to leverage engagement. By establishing that differences do exist between segments of sport fans, practical strategies could be developed based on such differences.
Research approach, design and method: A cross-sectional, quantitative design was utilised in this study. A convenience sample of 430 adult fans of one of South Africa’s largest and best supported professional football clubs participated in the study. Two fan groupings were compared, namely fans who belonged to a formal supporters’ branch of the club versus fans who did not, and fans who frequented the social media platforms of such club versus fans who did not. Multi group confirmatory factor analysis and latent variable modelling were implemented to compare groups of fans in terms of sport fan engagement. Measurement invariance was reviewed to compare the equivalence of measurement between the groups.
Main findings: Statistical analysis revealed greater levels of fan engagement amongst fans that form part of formal supporters’ branches as well as amongst fans who regularly visit the sport club’s social media platforms.
Practical/managerial implications: By making use of supporters’ branches and social media,practical engagement strategies are available to professional sport clubs that seek to enhance the engagement experience of their fans. These strategies could assist clubs in developing customised intervention programmes specifically for this purpose.
Contribution/value-add: The study puts forward practical suggestions with regards to engagement strategies that professional sport clubs can consider in their efforts to enhance the commercial performance of their teams through greater engagement
For the like of the game: assessing the role of social media engagement in football consumer outcomes
No full textThe rise of social media use has altered the marketing context globally. In this regard, sport consumerism in particular has been influenced by the need of fans to communicate in real time and through remote means accessed digitally. However, limited research exists insofar frequency of social media use influences specific consumer outcomes. In this study, an investigation was undertaken to evaluate how regular social media use associates with positive consumer outcomes. These outcomes were performance tolerance of fans, stadium match attendance and consumer expenditure. Drawing from relationship marketing - and market segmentation theories, the postulated paths were scrutinised. 2465 adult fans of a predominant South African professional football club participated in the study. Of this sample, 67.75% indicated that they visit the social media platforms of the club under investigation on a daily basis. A cross-sectional design was implemented, with structural equation modelling as analysis used to explore postulated regression paths. Positive predictive relationships between frequent social media use and all consumer outcomes were established. Results are discussed and recommendations are made for future research
The role of teammate relationships, communication and self-efficacy in predicting athlete flow experience
No full textThis study aimed at testing a structural model of athlete flow in a sample of South African students. A quantitative, cross–sectional research design was implemented. Participants completed self–report measures at pre–arranged times that were in close proximity to the completion of athletic activity. Student athletes (n = 235) participating in South Africa s two major sports, football and rugby, were surveyed. The instruments utilised in this study included the Short Flow State Scale–2, the Questionnaire on Experience and Assessment of Work, and the Generalised Self–Efficacy Scale. The results indicated positive relationships between the variables and established predictor paths. Teammate relationships and self–efficacy were established to as the best predictors of flow experiences of athletes.http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14330237.2015.1124600http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2015.112460
Frederick Douglass photograph
No full textFrederick Douglass (1818-1895) was a famous passenger on the Underground Railroad and worked as a station agent in Rochester, Monroe County, New York. After escaping slavery, he worked tirelessly for the cause of abolition and equal rights as an orator, author, and statesman
See you at the match: Motivation for sport consumption and intrinsic psychological reward of premier football league spectators in South Africa
No full textOrientation: Local football contributes significantly to the social- and economic welfare of South Africa through its spectators. Understanding the motives and experiences of football spectators could provide opportunities for capitalising on football as revenue stream feeding the South African economy.
Research purpose: To investigate how motives for sport consumption predict intrinsic psychological reward of South African premier league football spectators.
Motivation for the study: Sport - particularly football - is an untapped resource for stimulating economic development and growth through its consumers. Spectators, who often experience their investment in the sport as deeply rewarding and meaningful, should participate more frequently in purchasing products or services associated with the sport. Through understanding the motives for sport consumption of South African premier league football spectators and the impact of these motives on intrinsic psychological reward experiences, football clubs are able to provide a targeted experience or service to spectators in order to further stimulate economic growth.
Research design, approach and method: A census sample of 806 football spectators attending various matches at a football stadium in Soweto was drawn. A cross-sectional research design was implemented. This research was exploratory and descriptive. Structural equation modelling was implemented to assess the factor structures of the constructs, to confirm composite reliability of the measures and to assess the structural paths between the variables.
Main findings: A predictive model for intrinsic psychological rewards (life satisfaction and meaning) through the motivation for sport consumption (individual – and game related factors) was confirmed. It was further established that motivation for sport consumption is significantly positively a) related to and b) associated with the experience of intrinsic psychological reward by South African football spectators. Practical/managerial implications: Football clubs should tailor spectator experiences around both individual and game related spectator motives in order to develop experiences associated with intrinsic psychological reward.
Contribution/value-add: The study contributes to consumer psychology research relating to the motives associated with the consumption of football within South Africa
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