Abstract
Behavioural engagement in sport is a priority from a public health and sport management researcher perspective (Eime et al., 2020); as well as community-based sport clubs and competitions (Sotiriadou et al., 2014). Continued behavioural engagement in sport is important for a variety of reasons, including: the attractiveness of clubs and competitions for future participants, and for the provision of opportunities for individuals of all ages and capabilities to play and enjoy sport. Moreover, behavioural engagement is linked with participant retention, a complex task faced by sport managers, public health experts, and academic researchers. In the sport management literature, the concept of psychological connection has proven a useful tool to understand behavioural engagement both cross-sectionally and longitudinally (e.g., Beaton et al., 2011; Sato et al., 2015, 2019).A majority of studies examining the role of psychological connection have been conducted using a combined measure approach (e.g., Funk, Beaton, et al., 2011; Rocha & Gratao, 2018). Instead of focusing on the role of psychological connection as a combined measure in this thesis, the facets of psychological connection are explored individually, in relation to their influence on behavioural engagement. Limited research has examined the influence of each of the facets of psychological connection on behavioural engagement (e.g., Sato et al., 2019), however, for the limited research that has been conducted, the role of the individual facets of psychological connection have been conveyed as having their own ‘distinct meaning’ as important indicators (Sato et al., 2014). Further, Sato et al. (2014) asserts that each of the individual facets have their own unique role as predictors of a range of behavioural outcomes. Understanding the relationships between the facets of psychological connection and behavioural engagement, therefore, is important for local sport clubs and competitions.
In this thesis, a mixed-methods approach was used to further explore the key drivers of behavioural engagement in the context of Touch Football in Australia. Three studies were conducted. Participants from every State and Territory in Australia were recruited using the Touch Football Australia (TFA) national database. Touch Football Australia funded this project, with the aim of exploring the drivers of Touch Football participation. However, the project was led by researchers at the University of Canberra, namely the PhD candidate.
In study one, a quantitative cross-sectional approach was used to examine the role of each of the individual facets of psychological connection on behavioural engagement. The influence of the facets of psychological connection in comparison to the influence of commitment and satisfaction as drivers of behavioural engagement was also investigated. Data were collected via surveys, and a three-step analysis process including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed. In total, 4353 surveys were used during analysis.
In study two, the drivers of continued behavioural engagement were examined longitudinally via recruiting participants who had (a) completed two surveys in an 18-month period, (b) were identified as still playing Touch Football, (c) and participated in an interview focusing on the drivers of continued behavioural engagement. Study two however, focused only on the interview responses. The factors causing behavioural disengagement were also explored through (a) recruiting participants who previously completed a national participation survey, (b) were then identified as being behaviourally disengaged from Touch Football, (c) and agreed to participate in an interview focusing on the reasons for behavioural disengagement. A thematic analysis was performed on the continued behavioural engagement sample, while the reasons for disengagement from the behaviourally disengaged sample were analysed in line with the hierarchical model of leisure constraints. In total, there were 16 long-term (continued) participants, and 8 disengaged participants.
For study three, the relationships between centrality and playing frequency, and hedonism and intentions to play in future, were examined longitudinally. A sample of 612 participants who completed two surveys over an 18-month period were used for quantitative analysis. Qualitative analysis was conducted using a sample of 16 participants who participated in an interview focusing on the drivers of continued behavioural engagement. As such, a convergent mixed methods approach was adopted. Linear regression and multiple regression analyses was performed to investigate the relationship between centrality and playing frequency, and hedonism and intentions to play in future; over time. Interview data were analysed to further corroborate the findings from quantitative analysis.
The findings from study one indicated that the facets of hedonism and centrality were the strongest predictors (of the facets) of behavioural engagement. Centrality had the strongest positive influence on playing frequency, whereas hedonism had the strongest positive influence on participant intentions towards playing behaviours, namely: intentions to play in future, and intentions to produce positive word of mouth. Commitment, however, was the strongest predictor of intentions to play in future, when compared to the facets of psychological connection and satisfaction. Finally, service quality was a key antecedent of the facets of psychological connection, commitment, and overall satisfaction.
For study two, overall enjoyment was identified as the key driver of continued behavioural engagement, including two subthemes. The two subthemes of overall enjoyment included enjoyment from the game, and enjoyment from the environment. Further, social connections and relationships played an important role in study two, establishing the significance of friends, family, and teammates, in impacting participants decisions to continue playing Touch Football. Several factors causing behavioural disengagement were identified, however, they were largely constraint related, as compared to due to a lack of enjoyment, or dissatisfaction. Nonetheless, injuries were the most recurring reason reported for behavioural disengagement.
In study three, the linear regression analyses indicated that the relationship between hedonism and intentions to play in one- and two-years’ time was stronger in 2018 as opposed to 2016. In comparison, the relationship between centrality and playing frequency was weaker in 2018 and compared to 2016. Moreover, the qualitative findings indicated that participants thoughts towards centrality were consistent with playing frequency, with several comments made by participants suggesting that a relationship between centrality and playing frequency existed. There was some evidence to suggest that hedonism may have influenced intentions to play in future, however, further investigation is required for a more comprehensive in depth understanding from a qualitative perspective.
The findings from this research showed that the facets of psychological connection were valuable in understanding behavioural engagement cross-sectionally and longitudinally, and therefore, individual exploration is beneficial. Exploring the role of the facets of psychological connection from an individual perspective as opposed to as a combined construct perspective, enabled a unique understanding of key behavioural engagement relationships, which previous studies have not. From a managerial perspective, such understanding resulted in the emergence of how key constructs were influenced by the facets of psychological connection, that are important for the retention of participants. This research also provides support for the conceptual space tested in study one, with behavioural engagement the key phenomenon investigated, and may be utilised in future studies. Finally, this research demonstrates the effectiveness of using a mixed methods approach, whereby initial quantitative data is complemented by longitudinal qualitative data and provides rich insights into the facilitators of behavioural engagement. Practically, the findings from this project highlight several ways of increasing the number of participants playing Touch Football, and the improvement of the retention of current participants including increasing centrality and hedonism of participants, increasing overall enjoyment, and building social connections and relationships for individuals playing Touch Football.
| Date of Award | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Olan SCOTT (Supervisor), Anthony BEATON (Supervisor), Marjan ASLAN (Supervisor) & Richard KEEGAN (Supervisor) |