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Examples of how systematic reviews and meta-analyses are used in sport

This is an excerpt from Research Methods and Design in Sport Management-3rd Edition by Damon P.S. Andrew,Paul M. Pedersen.

By Amy Chan Hyung Kim, PhD, Hyosoon Yim, PhD

The field of sport management has experienced rapid growth over recent decades, resulting in an expanding body of literature across diverse specialized topics. As noted earlier, this growth has created challenges for researchers attempting to keep pace with the latest developments. Given that building research upon existing studies is fundamental to scientific progress, systematic approaches to synthesizing existing knowledge have become increasingly important. Reflecting this need, while it remains relatively recent compared to other established disciplines, systematic reviews and meta-analyses began appearing in major sport management journals starting in the mid-2010s. As of August 2024, European Sport Management Quarterly (ESMQ), Sport Management Review (SMR), and the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship (IJSMS) have each published three studies, while Sport Marketing Quarterly (SMQ) has published one. Of the 10 studies published in the sport management journals mentioned earlier, two were meta-analyses (Kim et al., 2019; Kwon and Cornwell, 2021), while the remaining eight were systematic reviews (Lara-Bocanegra et al., 2022; Maitland et al., 2015; Mojtahedi et al., 2024; Rietz and Hallmann, 2022; Roberts et al., 2020; Tacon and Vainker, 2017; Thompson et al., 2023; Whitley et al., 2019). The topics of these studies predominantly fall into two major categories.

The first theme encompasses organizational culture, governance, and ethics in sport, which explores the internal dynamics and ethical considerations within sport organizations. In this category, Maitland et al. (2015) performed a systematic review examining the various ways organizational culture has been analyzed in the context of sport, along with the different research interests that have emerged in this area. Their review addressed several key aspects, including the impact of organizational culture on athlete development, the connection between cultural strength and organizational performance, and the factors driving organizational diversity. Thompson et al. (2023) provided a comprehensive review of governance principles in sport, highlighting best practices and areas for improvement. Roberts et al. (2020) examined organizational factors related to non-accidental violence in sport, offering insights into the structural conditions that can lead to such incidents. Lastly, Mojtahedi et al. (2024) focused on the abuse of match officials, emphasizing the need for protective measures and policy development.

The second theme was closely related to sport marketing, sponsorship, and consumer behavior that investigated the commercial aspects of sport. Kim et al. (2019) conducted a meta-analytic review of factors affecting attendance at sporting events, providing valuable insights for marketing strategies aimed at increasing spectator numbers. Rietz and Hallmann (2022) explored spectator behavior in e-sports, investigating the motivations behind why people watch e-sports events. Kwon and Cornwell (2021) performed a meta-analytic review on the financial impact of sport sponsorship announcements on stock returns, highlighting the economic benefits of sponsorship deals.

The other three studies focused on the broader societal impact of sport and the role of innovation within the industry. Whitley et al. (2019) conducted a systematic review of sport for development interventions across six global cities (i.e., Cape Town, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, Nairobi, and New Orleans), highlighting the significance of sport in community development. Their review emphasized the necessity for more rigorous and systematic research and evaluation practices, along with the importance of making these efforts openly accessible and critically evaluated. Lara-Bocanegra et al. (2022) analyzed the literature on entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in the sport sector, identifying the role of innovation in these areas, assessing current research trends, and exploring potential avenues for future research. Finally, Tacon and Vainker (2017) reviewed existing studies on fantasy sport participation, emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of previous research and offering suggestions for advancing knowledge in this field.

Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to sport management have also been published in journals that are not exclusively dedicated to sport management. For example, Miagaia and Soares (2017) conducted a systematic review published in the Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education, analyzing literature on higher education in sport management from 1982 to 2014 and identifying eight key research areas. In another study, Kim et al. (2020) examined the psychological and social outcomes of sport participation among older adults by synthesizing 23 relevant studies; this research was published in Ageing and Society. Additionally, Chen et al. (2023) conducted a meta-analysis published in Current Issues in Tourism, which investigated 40 correlation matrices from articles in sport and tourism journals to identify the factors influencing decision making among sport tourists.

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