Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The purpose of this study was to validate a new protocol for examining spectator behavior at high school sporting events. The methodology was based on the construct of Smelser's (1962) six determinants of collective behavior - conduciveness, strain, growth of beliefs, precipitating factors, mobilization , and social controls - and operationalised incorporating both qualitative (interviews and observations) and quantitative methods that included a behavioral assessment, an identification scale, and pre- and post-game emotional scales. Fourteen games (3 hockey, 6 soccer, 5 football) were observed over three stages of methodological development. Data were collected by teams of researchers at the games, and then were organized by themes relating to the six determinants. The themes were then examined against social and psychological theories attributed to spectator research, and examined for new construct relationships of the determinants. The research yielded a valid methodology for further spectator research, and suggestions for understanding spectator behavior are offered. / 2999-01-01

The present study examined how a fan's desire to participate in superstitious behaviors depends on team identification, team location, and game outcome. The study is a 2 (team identification: high vs. low) x 2 (game outcome: close game vs. blowout) x 2 (location of team: local vs. distant) between subjects factorial design. Participants for the current study included 234 students, recruited from undergraduate psychology classes at Western Kentucky University. Participants completed the Sport Spectator Identification Scale, read a randomly assigned vignette differing in team location and game outcome, and filled out the Superstition Questionnaire to measure their desire to complete superstitious behaviors based on the vignette. They also filled out the Desirability of Control Scale, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales to account for the possible covariates of desirability of control and anxiety level. An analysis of the covariates showed that there were no significant correlations between desirability of control or anxiety level and the desire to complete superstitious behaviors. Results indicated that highly identified fans reported wanting to perform more superstitious behaviors than low identified fans. However, no main effect was found for game outcome or team location, and there were no interactions. This finding reiterated the importance of team identification and its effects on the fan. The study also brought new variables to the table, game type and team type, that could be used in future research.

Purpose: This study is a micro-level perspective of value co-creation in spectator sport. By examining sport through the value co-creation lens, the dual role of the customer as both a contributor to and a beneficiary of value is acknowledged and the importance of stakeholder interactions is emphasized. This study analyzes the extent to which two theoretically and managerially important factors—attendance frequency (i.e. first-time attendee vs repeat attendee) and resident type (i.e. local resident vs domestic traveler)—impact value creation in the recurring live sporting event setting. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from spectators who attended a National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) sanctioned racing event. Multigroup structural equation modeling was performed to examine the proposed pathways, and multigroup t-tests were used to compare the model across both groups for each moderating variable. Corresponding path coefficients were then compared using Chin's (2004) recommended equations and procedures. Findings: The study found organization-related value propositions to be the more common antecedents of value, while customer appearance had a strong negative association with hedonic value, and attendance frequency and resident type influenced certain value perceptions. Sport organizations should consider the expectations and motivations of various customer groups and provide offerings designed to meet the specific needs of different fan segments based on the spectator's experience with the sport product and the distance traveled to attend the sport event. Originality/value: This paper advances the authors’ understanding of value creation in sport by showing how customer perceptions of value associated with the sport organization and other customers can be moderated by certain behavioral and geographic factors.

本論文では、スポーツ振興政策を牽引するアクターとしてスポーツ観戦に注目し、そのメカニズムを明らかにすること、そのメカニズムがソーシャル・キャピタルに影響があるという仮説を提示することを目的とした。これらを明らかにすることで、スポーツ観戦需要に貢献することだけでなく、まちづくりの方向性を示すことができる。また、社会性の強い投資資金も流入することが期待され、スポーツの自立性が可能となると考えるからである。 / The purpose of this discourse is to analyze the mechanism of sport spectator through an empirical analysis and set up the hypothesis, its mechanism affecting social capital. Through those research assignments, those findings would contribute not only the demand of sport spectator but also the direction of community development. And a new social investment money would be resulted in flow to sport promotion policy to meet stake holders' expectation, and then sport would become financially independent. / 博士(経済学) / Doctor of Economics / 同志社大学 / Doshisha University