The purpose of this research was to develop a model for cross-cultural sport spectatorship, and then to compare American and Chinese basketball spectators. Means-end theory guided the development of a conceptual framework, and structural equation modeling was used to test the relationship between focal attributes and expected consequences. Focal attributes referred to the concrete features of basketball games, while expected consequences referred to abstract motives for watching sporting events. Participants were National Basketball Association spectators in the United States and Chinese Basketball Association spectators in China. Self-administered questionnaires were administered at games in the two countries. Significant findings included cross-cultural similarities and differences in the spectatorsâ reasons for attending games. Spectators in the two countries were compared on their preferences for: Kahleâs List of Values, individualism/collectivism dimensions, attributes, consequences, consequence-attribute paths, and behavioral intentions. Recommendations for the field and future research are included, as well as limitations of the study. This study provides a new methodology for testing means-end theory, and a new model for analyzing sport spectatorship. This study also contributes to the growing body of literature in cross-cultural sport marketing.

The purpose of this research is to investigate selected climatic and economic conditions affecting tourism in the Coastal Region of North Carolina by using multiple regression analysis and comparing multiple models to determine the best fitting model(s). The research expands on current quantitative data obtained in the area to provide applications for tourism. This study is exploratory to determine if the applications of regression modeling can provide a better understanding of the touristsâ consumer behavior and to provide a tool for tourism professionals to develop and implement policies and planning to maximize visitation. The research involves the application of standard linear multiple regression analysis for eight explanatory variables chosen based on literature and availability of data. The variables included in the research are rooms rented (represented by room demand), room supply, average daily rate, travel price index, gas prices for the lower eastern region of the United States, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and precipitation averaged on a monthly basis. The results indicate that the climatic and economic variables used in this study explain over three-fourths of visitation to the Coastal Region of North Carolina. Temperature has the greatest explanatory power of all the variables used in the models to explain tourism to the Coastal Region. Precipitation had the least explanatory power within the models. The study provides empirical evidence of the impact of climatic and economic conditions on tourism, which indicates the influence they have on tourist behavior.

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between athletic identity and two variables from the expectancy-value theory, expectations for success and subjective task value, in the context of high school soccer competitive team selection. The quantitative research design integrated historical and emerging theoretical perspectives on identity development in an effort to add insight to the relationships between the theoretical perspectives. The quasi-experimental research design included the self-administration of paper and pencil questionnaires on three occasions over the course of approximately four weeks. Males and females competing for selection to their high school soccer teams in Central Florida comprised the study sample. Significant positive correlations were found between participantsâ athletic identity, expectations for success and subjective task value throughout competitive team selection. Participantsâ athletic identity remained relatively stable over time; yet, significant increases in expectations for success and significant decreases for subjective task value were detected. Additional findings were: the varsityâs athletic identity and expectations for success were significantly higher than junior varsity and not selected groups; the female junior-varsityâs subjective task value was significantly lower than female-varsity and male-junior varsity groups; seniors reported higher expectations for success than freshmen; the upper division reported higher expectations for success than the lower division, whereas, the lower division reported higher subjective task value than the upper division. In consideration of the studyâs limitations, recommendations for the field and for future research are provided. The findings provide a basis to forge an empirical connection between the construct of athletic identity and the expectancy-value theory model of achievement-related behavior in a sports domain. Moreover, the lack of significant gender differences may indicate that socially supportive environments may foster female athleticism, including confirmation of athletic identity and sport-related expectations for success.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ?retro? stadiums on professional baseball franchises. Retro stadiums, baseball-exclusive facilities modeled on classic architectural designs of the past, were built at an increasing rate beginning in 1992 with Baltimore?s Camden Yards. This study analyzed changes in franchises? attendance, winning percentage, revenue and team value in the seasons following a team?s relocation to a retro stadium. Retro stadiums were found to positively increase attendance, revenue and team value for franchises at a higher rate than teams that did not build retro stadiums. An analysis of these variables and a discussion of the results for all individual franchises that constructed retro stadiums during the 1992-2004 period are presented in this study.

<p><P>I developed a new methodology to produce an orthorectified mosaic and a vegetation database of Petersburg National Battlefield using mostly digital methods. Both the mosaic and the database meet National Map Accuracy Standards and proved considerably faster than traditional aerial photograph interpretation methods. I classified vegetation polygons to the formation level using the Nature Conservancy?s National Vegetation Classification System. Urban areas were classified using Mitchell?s Classification Scheme for Urban Forest Mapping with Small-Scale Aerial Photographs. This method reduced the production time by 2/3, compared to traditional methods. It also reduced the chance of user error because re-tracing of the linework is not required. <P>My method started with scanning 75 aerial color IR photos, provided by Petersburg National Battlefield, at 600 dpi. Erdas Imagine was used to rectify the images using United States Geological Service (USGS) Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and black and white USGS Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangles (DOQQ) as reference. The images were then mosaiced to create a seamless color infrared orthorectified basemap of the park. The vegetation polygons were drawn onscreen using ArcMap from Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) with the color, orthorectified mosaic as a background image. Stereo pairs of the aerial photos were referenced as needed for clarification of the vegetation. I used a minimum mapping unit (mmu) of 0.2 hectares, which exceeds guidelines defined by the United States Geological Survey ? National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program. This methodology is easily learned quickly and has already been applied to several other studies. <P>The production of an orthorectified mosaic, created during the process, from the aerial photographs greatly increases the value of the photographs at little additional cost to the user. The orthorectified basemap can then be used as a backdrop for existing data layers or it can be used to create new GIS data layers. I used a minimum mapping unit (mmu) of 0.2 hectare, which exceeds guidelines defined by the United States Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program<P>Traditionally, vegetation polygons are delineated on acetate for each photograph. The linework on the acetates is then transferred to a basemap using a zoom transfer scope or other transfer instrument. The linework is traced again to digitize it for use in a GIS program. This process is time consuming, and the linework is drawn three times. The redundant tracing increases the chance of user error. My new methodology requires that polygons be delineated only once. I wanted to avoid using the zoom transfer scope and to avoid the redundant linework.<P>A total of 228 polygons were delineated over 20 separate vegetation and land cover classes with an overall thematic accuracy of 87.42% and a Kappa of .8545. Positional accuracy was very good with a RMSE of 1.62 meters in the x direction and 2.81 meters in the y direction. The Kappa and RMSE values compare favorably with accuracies obtained using traditional vegetation mapping methods.<P>

<p>MURPHY, JILL MARIE. The Effect of a One-Time Team Building Exercise on Team Cohesion when working with a NCAA Division I Women?s Basketball Team. Dr. Aram Attarian, Committee Chair. The purpose of this preliminary study was to measure the effects on a one-time team building exercise on team cohesion. A NCAA Division I women?s basketball team participated in this study. The team building exercise used was a rescue simulation. The instrument used to measure team cohesion was the Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ). The GEQ was administered one week prior and one week after the rescue simulation. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel with StatPlus. After analyzing the data, no significant changes were found between the pretest and posttest. <P>

<p>GREENWOOD, PAUL BRIAN. Sport Fan Team Identification in a Professional Expansion Setting. (Under the direction of Michael A. Kanters.) This study assessed the relationship between team identification of sport fans and a number of different variables including but not limited to: the reasons for initially becoming a fan, specific sport knowledge, and purchasing behavior. A non-random sample of spectators (N = 356) at an Arena Football League (AFL) game completed a survey designed to identify or measure the aforementioned variables. A t-test revealed that males reported significantly higher levels of team identification than females. Analysis using a Pearson correlation matrix showed a positive correlation between team identification and sport knowledge, attendance rate, and purchasing behavior. Likewise, a positive correlation was found between team identification and the following reasons for initially becoming a fan: closest team, born and/or live in the city and/or state, team success, the players and/or coaches, parents and/or family influence, and the tailgating and party atmosphere. The findings have important implications for professional sport franchises in terms of tailoring marketing efforts for potential fans.<P>

<p>The purpose of this study was to objectively assess the economic impact of the 2000 NC State football season on Wake County. Data were collected from several sources to yield an accurate assessment of the economic impact of NC State football on its host community. These sources included: 1) visitor travel and expenditure data, 2) NC State football expenditure data, and 3) relevant data from Wake County. Visitor data were obtained by using two separate samples and surveys. A 20-item questionnaire was mailed to 1,000 randomly selected 2000 NC State football season ticket holders that reside outside of Wake County. In a separate convenience sample, another 1,200 subjects were administered a 12-itmem questionnaire at the Duke game on November 11, 2000. SPSS was then used to generate frequency distributions and summary statistics for the visitors in both samples. NC State football data were supplied by the NC State Athletics Department, and relevant Wake County data were retrieved from several different sources. The economic impact model used in this study (LOCI- Local Area Impact Model) used both local level data and input-output methods to determine the direct, indirect, and induced effects of the 2000 NC State football season on employment, income, and retail activity in Wake County. The multipliers used in this study were derived from input-output analysis of Wake County?s economy using IMPLAN Pro4, and the local level data consisted of the aforementioned visitor data, NC State football data, and relevant Wake County data. The results of the study indicated that the 2000 NC State football season generated 86 new jobs, $2,894,290 of new income, $9,096,507 of new retail spending, and $1,821,707 of new service purchases in Wake County. <P>

<p>The purpose of this study has been to determine the value that a winning athletic program can add to a college or university. The premise for this idea evolved from research regarding the annual U.S. News & World Report college rankings, in which various factors are considered, including reputation. Since the athletic department is frequently referred to as the ?doorstep of the University,? the research sought to determine whether or not a winning athletic program does in fact enhance the reputation of a university, thus making it more appealing to talented students. Along with the annual rankings, a method called the Resource-Based View (RBV) was used to calculate athletic success, based on four characteristics that included win-loss record, compliance, graduation rates and financial health. Using the seven public institutions in the Atlantic Coast Conference as the subjects, the athletic departments were analyzed and ranked based on these criteria and evaluated against each institution?s ranking in U.S News using Spearman?s Correlation Coefficient. Although the results of the study did not result in the strong relationship between a winning athletic department and university success that was predicted, the small sample size was a factor. This study sets up a starting point for a nationwide study of all institutions in the National Collegiate Athletic Association as a follow-up study and has great promise.<P>

abstract: In order to be competitive in the hotel market, more and more hotels have proposed various types of "wow" services to inform customers' impressions of the hotel in a positive way. Many customers consider these services excellent, and they often exceed their expectations. However, some "wow" services only generate the effect of amazement instead of meeting customers' needs and wants. Applying the notion of the Zone of Tolerance (ZOT: the range between customers' desired and adequate levels of service expectations) to the unique services provided by the Hotel Royal Chiao Hsi Spa in Taiwan, this research study explores hotel customers' service expectations and perceived service quality while revealing the relationship between service quality, satisfaction, and future behavioral intentions. The findings indicate that the ZOT indeed exists in customers' service expectations through the significant difference between the desired and adequate levels of expectations. In addition, findings indicate that customers have diverse tolerance zones toward different hotel services regarding the perceived level of essentialness. Ultimately, the findings specify that customers' perceived service quality has a direct effect on both customer satisfaction and future behavioral intentions. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Recreation and Tourism Studies 2013