In order to provide a “glimpse” of statistical data analysis techniques currently being published in selected sport management journals, an inductive search of one of the top tier journals was conducted. The purpose of this study was to assess statistical data analysis techniques used in the International Journal of Sport Management (IJSM).
Method
Content analysis was used to analyze all of the articles published in IJSM to determine the frequency of the various types of statistical data analysis techniques utilized by sport management researchers. In this project, all statistical data analysis techniques which were used to directly answer the research purposes, questions, and hypotheses were considered and counted.
Analysis/Results
Content analysis was performed on 203 main articles published in the International Journal of Sport Management (IJSM) for a nine year period (2000-2008). Of this amount, 146 (71.9%) were quantitative articles, 18 (8.87%) were qualitative, 9 (4.43%) were mixed, and 30 (14.7%) were conceptual articles. In quantitative research (n=146) and mixed research (n=9) articles reviewed, 295 uses of statistical data analysis techniques were identified. The techniques were classified by type of statistical data analysis methods as descriptive statistics, parametric statistics, and nonparametric statistics. Slightly more than one-third (33.56%) was analyzed as descriptive statistics, more than one-half (55.59 %) as parametric statistics and one-tenth (10.85%) as nonparametric statistics. Percentages, frequencies, and means were the most frequent descriptive statistics used to answer the research purposes, questions, and/or hypotheses by the researchers. ANOVA, regression analysis, and the T-test were the most frequent parametric statistics used and chi-square was the most frequent nonparametric statistic used.
Conclusions
Based on the findings of this study, it is evident that the positivist paradigm has been, and continues to be, the primary mode of inquiry for sport management research in IJSM. This study can be used to provide guidance for adequate preparation of students for conducting research or for faculty who teach students research methods in the area of sport management.