sports fans’ team identification and their attitudes
TRANSCRIPT
Sports Fans’ Team Identification and Their Attitudes Toward RivalsBy: Teddy Keyser
Sports in Our Society• One of the most important
aspects of our culture.• A way for individuals from
different backgrounds to connect socially.
• Sports in our society are a reflection of our nation.
• Popular form of entertainment resulting in millions or even billions of dollars made every year.
Social Identity Theory• The phenomenon of being socially connected with
a certain a certain group or microcosm.• Sports fans create a sense of self based on which
group they support.• Results in a sense of belonging, increase of pride and self esteem.• Others who identify with the same microcosm tend to support one another.• Story Time!
Sports Rivalries
• Sports rivalries are the result of Social Identity Theory.
• Fans believe that there team is the “best” in the sport.
• This creates tension between fans of different teams and eventually a rivalry.
Past Research• Wann, Waddill, Polk, and Weaver (2010)• Reported relationship between team identification and
psychological well being.• Increase in social connections.• Team is a part of the fan
• Hirt, Zillmann, Erickson, and Kennedy (1992)• Examined performance after their favorite team won or lost.• Participants completed a motor skills task, mental skills task, a
social skills task, and a chance task. • Positive correlation between mood and performance after win
or loss.• BIRG (basking in reflected glory).• Tend to distance themselves from others not in their
microcosm.
Hypotheses
• H1: Participants highly identified and whose favorite team lost in a championship game against rival team will show more negative attitudes toward rivals.
• H2: Significant main effect of championship game outcome on perceived fairness of the rival fan.
• H3: Significant interaction between gender and their level of team identification.
Method
Participants
• Forty participants (26 male, 14 female, 85% Caucasian)
• Age range from 18 to 49 years (M = 24.75, SD = 8.49)
• Most were friends, family, and coworkers• Others volunteered to complete the study
via SONA and received partial course credit.
Materials
• 2 (outcome of a championship game: win or loss) x 2 (team identification level: high or low) between subjects design.
• Survey:• Basic demographic questions• Sport Spectator Identification Scale (Wann & Branscombe, 1993)• Eight point scale
• Two scenarios: win or loss conditions• Rate the perceptions of their typical rival fan after win or loss
Procedure
• Participants were asked to read and sign an informed consent paper.• Provided minor details about the study and guaranteed confidentiality.
• Half were provided with a survey that contained the winning condition.
• The other half provided with the losing condition.
• Finally given a debriefing statement.
Results
Hypothesis 1
The game outcome X team identification level interaction on perceived goodness of a rival fan was significant, F(1,36) = 5.231, p = .028.
Hypothesis 1 and 2• The game outcome X team identification level on
perceived fairness of a rival fan was significant, F(1,36) = 4.747, p = .036.
• Significant main effect of game outcome on perceived fairness of a rival fan, F(1,36) = 6.011, p = .019.
Hypothesis 3
• No significant differences between genders!• Possible gender bias?
Discussion
Discussion
• Evidence of a true effect of hypothesis 1 on the perceived fairness and goodness variables of rival fans.
• The majority of the dependent variables (e.g., trustworthy, masculine/feminine, knowledgeable, neurotic, etc.) were not significant.•Weak manipulation?• Possible participant confusion?
• Every rivalry is different
Limitations
• Greatest limitation faced was time.•More time could have resulted in:• More participants• Specificity (more selective of
participants and/or variables)• Working alone•Less efficient way of collecting data
Future Research
• 2 (Win or Loss) X 2 (High or Low Identification) X 2(location: Urban or Rural)• Differences between fans within or surrounding the team’s home city?
• Look at the rivalries of different sports and compare the attitudes of fans of different sports• Do hockey fans have more of a negative attitude toward rival fans than football fans?
Thank You for Listening!!!
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