Marlene A. Dixon

The Relationship Between Organizational Support, Work-Family Conflict, and the Job-Life Satisfaction of University Coaches

Abstract This study examined the relationship between organizational support, work-family conflict, and job and life satisfaction among coaches. Data from collegiate head coaches with families (N = 253) were gathered through a mailed questionnaire. Results from a series of covariance structure models indicated that a partially mediated model was the best fitting model, χ2 = (255, N = 253) 461.20, p < .001; root mean error of approximation = .05; comparative fit index = .95; parsimonious normed fit index = .71. In partial support of the study hypotheses, the results supported full mediation of the direct effect from organizational support to life satisfaction. Work-family conflict partially mediated the relationship between organizational support and job satisfaction. Job satisfaction partially mediated the effect of organizational support and work-family conflict to life satisfaction.

Perspectives on Work-Family Conflict in Sport: An Integrated Approach

The overall literature concerning work-family conflict is growing rapidly, but has failed to incorporate multiple theoretical levels. Instead, researchers have examined the construct from either an individual, structural, or social relations perspective. Investigation of work-family conflict by integrating multiple theoretical levels provides valuable insights regarding the processes and products of work-family conflict, as well as the larger structural and social meanings behind work, family and their interface. Further, sport offers an ideal context for the study of work-family conflict due to the long, non-traditional work hours and significant travel. This article reviews three commonly used theoretical approaches to the study of work-family conflict--individual, structural, and social relations. It then demonstrates within a sport context how the three approaches can be integrated both from a top-down and a bottom-up perspective to better understand the causes, consequences, and interpretation of work-family conflict as an individual experience bounded by and shaped in organisational and social realities.

Data Aggregation in Multilevel Analysis: A Review of Conceptual and Statistical Issues

Understanding that the behavior of people takes place within a context, over the past 20 years research in education and the sport sciences has witnessed an increasing development of multilevel frameworks that are both conceptually and methodologically sound. Despite these advances, the use of multilevel models and research designs in education still could be improved. As noted by recent editorial commentaries and reviews, confusion often exists about appropriate levels of analysis both at the conceptual and statistical level. The purpose of this article is threefold. First, we explain how multilevel conceptualizations can aid our understanding of behavior, especially within a given context. Second, we review three aggregation methods for analyzing multilevel data: within group agreement, intraclass correlations, and within and between analysis. Third, we provide a conceptual and statistical example to demonstrate how these aggregation techniques could be utilized to answer questions in sport and physical activity.

Challenge Is Key: An Investigation of Affective Organizational Commitment in Undergraduate Interns

In this study, the authors investigated factors related to affective organizational commitment in undergraduate interns. They examined job challenge, supervisor support, and role stress as antecedents to commitment. Results based on a sample of senior undergraduate students (N = 71) showed that the 3 work variables explained 35% of the variance in affective organizational commitment. The authors discuss implications for educators and managers in charge of designing and implementing quality internships.

Sport Participation Across National Contexts: A Multilevel Investigation of Individual and Systemic Influences on Adult Sport Participation

Abstract Since multiple factors may impact adult levels and patterns of sport participation, this study utilized stages from Greens (2005) sport development theoretical model to examine the structural and individual factors that impact the sport experiences, patterns, and motives of both female and male adults in three different countries: the Netherlands (n=48), the United States of America (n=44), and the Republic of Korea (n=30). Asynchronous online focus groups using semi-structured questions assessed past and current sport participation, barriers and benefits to sport participation, and perceptions of sport delivery systems. The main themes that emerged related to adult sport participation were life-course and transitional dynamics, motivational differences, and sport delivery system impacts. While previous research has typically implicated individual-level factors for differences in sport participation the current study indicates that delivery system level factors are also critical. Systems that are more readily accessible or predictable and those that create social opportunities may be keys to increasing adult sport participation.

Contemporary Developments in Sport Pedagogy and their Implications for Sport Management Education

Within the context of rapidly changing social conditions in developed societies, traditional approaches to teaching and learning that view learning as a simple process of internalising a fixed body of knowledge have become outdated and ineffective. The traditional emphasis on content, or what we feel our students should learn, has thus become less important than the need to help them learn how to learn and to think critically about both content and process. This paper examines contemporary learning theory and its previous application in the sport coaching and physical education field to suggest how these ideas might be applied to sport management education. It argues that, for teaching and learning to be relevant and effective, the focus must be on learning instead of teaching, on the process of learning rather than its product. Further, it must include relevant experience, and involve participation in the practices of the community of sport management.

Sports and Community on Campus: Constructing a Sports Experience That Matters

Student affairs personnel are often charged with the task of creating a sense of community on campuses. Sports is among the many activities that historically have been used to meet this need for community among students. Yet, how and when a sense of community is created within a sports context has not been appropriately addressed in literature. Utilizing a community psychology theoretical framework for this study, we employed a qualitative approach to uncover the necessary factors for creating a sense of community within a sports club setting. The results revealed that Common Interest, Leadership Opportunities, Voluntary Activity, and Competition were the most critical components to creating a sense of community. The results advance community building theory and suggest practical application for improving the student experience. The implications for sports managers and student affairs administrators are also discussed.

Competition, Gender and the Sport Experience: An Exploration among College Athletes.

Worldwide, sport and physical activity rates of women generally lag behind those of men. One reason for this could be the way that sport cultures typically frame and value competition. This study provides an examination of the meaning and impact of ‘competition’ on the sport participation experiences of men and women. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, individual and group interviews were conducted with 76 current and former male and female collegiate athletes from both varsity and club sports regarding the impact of competition on their sport experiences. Results revealed that women and men tended to view and interpret competition differently, which strongly impacted their sport experiences. Sport programming that embraces a balance of cooperation and competition may be valuable for attracting and retaining both male and female participants.

Roles and Tasks of the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) in Intercollegiate Athletics: A Role Congruity Perspective

Abstract Using role congruity theory as a guiding framework, this study analyzed a set of roles and tasks for senior woman administrators (SWA) at all levels of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). An analysis of the responses of 574 SWAs and 542 athletic directors (AD) indicated a general agreement that the SWA performs roles and tasks defined by the NCAA primarily on behalf of gender-neutral programs (i.e., both mens and womens) as opposed to gender-focused programs (i.e., women only). Further, this study supported previous research suggesting that the SWA performs communal roles (i.e., serving as a role model) to a much greater extent than agentic roles (i.e., budget management). There is also evidence that Division I SWAs are performing agentic roles to a much greater extent than Division II and Division III SWAs, and that they are more apt to have an accompanying title as an athletics administrator (93%) as compared to SWAs in the lower divisions (DII = 44% and DIII = 53%). This study found clear perceptual differences between the AD and SWA (p < .05) regarding the extent to which SWAs performed roles related to core management team participation—a finding which raises the question as to whether the SWA truly has a meaningful role in the athletics department. Implications and recommendations for theory and practice are advanced.

The essential role of community in consumption of a shared experience: Lessons from youth sport

This illuminating Handbook presents the state-of-the-art in the scientific field of experience economy studies. It offers a rich and varied collection of contributions that discuss different issues of crucial importance for our understanding of the experience economy. Each chapter reflects diverse scientific viewpoints from disciplines including management, mainstream economics and sociology to provide a comprehensive overview.