Author | Warner, Stacy | |
Author | Shapiro, Stephen L. | |
Author | Dixon, Marlene A. | |
Author | Ridinger, Lynn L. | |
Author | Harrison, Scott B. | |
Date Accessioned | 2014-08-05T16:02:28Z | |
Date Available | 2014-08-05T16:02:28Z | |
Date of Issue | 2011 | |
Identifier (Citation) | Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics; 4: p. 236-256 | en_US |
Identifier (URI) | http://hdl.handle.net/10342/4447 | |
Description | Many American universities continue to invest in expensive intercollegiate football
programs, and specifically cite the sport’s ability to foster a sense of community (SOC) as justification for the cost. This study sought to assess the importance of SOC and the influence of football on the cultivation thereof. A pre-post test design utilizing an online survey compared SOC levels for students (N = 886) before and after the implementation of Division I football on a large university campus. No significant differences were found in SOC levels before and after the football season (regardless of attendance). Post-test SOC perceptions differed based on game attendance (i.e., moderate and loyal attendees reported the highest levels). Finally, SOC had a moderate to strong positive influence on four outcome variables: Satisfaction, Retention, Current Support of Athletics, and Future Support for Athletics. This study suggests that while SOC is very important to students, at least in the short term the introduction of a football program does not foster a greater SOC for all students. | en_US |
Language | en_US | en_US |
Related URI | http://csri-jiia.org/documents/puclications/research_articles/2011/JIIA_2011_4_13_236_256_The_Football_Factor.pdf | en_US |
Subject | Sense of community | en_US |
Subject | University athletics | en_US |
Title | The Football Factor: Shaping Community on Campus | en_US |
Type | Article | en_US |
Journal Name | Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics | |
Journal Volume | 4 | |
Article Pages | 236-256 | |