Shang Chun Ma

A framework for monitoring during the planning stage for a sports mega-event

This paper proposes a monitoring framework to be used during the planning stage for a sports mega-event. The research identifies a lack of monitoring and evaluation studies during the development stage for sports mega-events. Importantly, it notes the absence of research which evaluates an event systematically from the outset of the process and from the perspectives of host residents and event planners. The framework was developed on the basis of the philosophical approach of pragmatism; it focused on a sustainable development perspective, and it was applied to a case study of the Kaohsiung 2009 World Games. A survey of the views of 606 host residents about the potential impacts of the event revealed that the respondents tended to show higher levels of agreement on the host benefits. The results of 38 interviews with various stakeholders indicated big gaps in both the citys long-term development aspirations and the Games themselves and also in the event strategies adopted. Using this information, key sustainability issues can be identified and monitored during the event planning stage so that the desirable outcomes of events can be enhanced and then sustained in the longer term.

Testing a Structural Model of Psychological Well-Being, Leisure Negotiation, and Leisure Participation with Taiwanese College Students

A theoretically constructed model combining psychological well-being, negotiation, and participation was tested using structural equation modeling on Taiwanese college students (N = 464). The results provided partial support for the proposed model in that the autonomy and self-acceptance dimensions of psychological well-being had significant positive effects on negotiation strategies. However, contrary to predictions, the personal growth and purpose in life dimensions had significant negative effects on college students’ use of negotiation strategies. Developing a psychological profile of successful negotiation among college students using this framework may aid in predicting who will activate their negotiation efforts, and thus enhance the effectiveness of interventions for health promotion.

Winning matches in Grand Slam men's singles: An analysis of player performance-related variables from 1991 to 2008

Abstract This study examines factors that lead to winning matches in mens singles Grand Slam tennis, and proposes guidelines for coaches and professional tennis players both in training and preparation for Grand Slam competitions. Using longitudinal data between 1991 and 2008 retrieved from the official website of the Association of Tennis Professionals, we analysed player performance over 9,144 matches in mens singles Grand Slam tournaments. To predict match outcome, 16 variables were classified into one of three categories: player skills and performance, player characteristics and match characteristics. The three categories were entered sequentially into a logistic regression model to predict the dependent variable: the chance of winning a mens singles Grand Slam match. The final altered model explains 79.4% of the variance (Nagelkerkes pseudo R 2) in match outcomes and correctly predicted 90.6% of cases. The importance of serving, receiving, and break points is further confirmed. The positive effect of stature diminishes when players are taller than 186 cm. We recommend more training in returning skills; to avoid overestimation of the positive impact of stature, left hand and professional experience; and that a male player begins his professional tennis career by participating in the US Open or Wimbledon.

Residents’ changed perceptions of sport event impacts: the case of the 2012 Tour de Taiwan

The study explores subgroups within host residents based on perceptions of the impacts of the 2012 Tour de Taiwan before and after the event. Theoretical perspectives of event impact studies considering Confucian traditions, social exchange theory and a sense of ‘feel-good’ or ‘communitas’ help to provide fresh insights. Data were collected from host residents in three competition stages, before and after the event. Twenty-two impact items divided into four factors generated subgroups of ‘neutral’ and ‘moderately positive’ (pre-event), and ‘neutral’ and ‘positive’ (post-event). The results show significant differences among the subgroups at the pre- and post-event stages in terms of gender, income, engagement in cycling exercises, levels of support and interest in the event, television watching, and event attendance. General benefits, negative impacts, the level of interest in the event and attendance were significant predictors of event support. The findings suggest that event feel-good can help the intangible characteristics of sporting events (do not entail construction and maintenance of permanent structures) to lever tangible and direct benefits for host communities.

Legacy perceptions among host Tour de Taiwan residents: the mediating effect of quality of life

Abstract Using the social exchange theory, the correlation between residents’ perceived importance and evaluation of legacy outcomes, with their support for the Tour de Taiwan, was explored. We examined the mediating role of residents’ quality of life (QOL) and how it affected the relationship between evaluation and importance of legacy outcomes and their event support. Results from a sample of 454 host residents indicated QOL significantly influences event support. The findings suggested to enhance event support, efforts should be made to leverage the legacies that are directly related to improving QOL. Implications focus on effective synergies of cross-leveraging different recurring events of the portfolio to sustain net benefits of the legacy outcomes.

Testing a Structural Model of Psychological Well-Being and Constraints Negotiation in Recreational Sports Participation in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes

The relationships among psychological well-being, constraints, negotiation, and participation were examined using structural equation modeling in patients with type 2 diabetes using a cross-sectional survey approach (N = 283). Despite a direct negative effect of constraints and a positive effect of negotiation on participation in recreational sports, we found no significant effect of constraints on the negotiation efforts of respondents. Instead, psychological well-being played an important role in the process. A higher level of psychological well-being not only directly decreases participation, but also indirectly increases participation by reducing constraints and promoting negotiation efforts. In particular, environmental mastery and personal growth indirectly increase participation by mitigating constraints; personal growth and positive relationships stimulate participation by boosting negotiation efforts and diminishing the discouraging impact of constraints on negotiation. However, a stronger purpose in life decreases both negotiation and participation.

The Relationship between Psychological Well-being and Media Use of College Students in Taiwan

This study aims to examine the relationship between media use and psychological well-being of college students in Taiwan. Employing a questionnaire survey of college students in Taiwan, Ryffs (1989) scale of psychological well-being, and a media use questionnaire, ten kinds of media use behaviors (watching TV, playing online games, online chatting, reading books, watching movies, watching TV news, reading newspaper news, reading online news, online information searching, and online shopping) are predicted by the six dimensions (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance) of psychological well- being with gender controlled as an intervening variable. Data were analyzed with t tests and multiple regression analysis. Based on the findings of a survey of 467 college students, three conclusions are made. First, males and females show different patterns in terms of the relationships between their psychological well-being and media use behavior. Second, since different media activities have different characteristics, each media use behavior correlates with different dimension of psychological well-being. Third, purpose in life is the best predictor of all the six psychological well-being dimensions. In addition, personal growth is the only significant predictor of how often and how long female students play online games.