Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Assistant Professor in Sport Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2 PhD Student in Sport Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
3 PhD Student in Sociology, Faculty of Literature & Humanities, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
4 M.Sc. in Sport Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
This study aimed at determining the relative contribution of team identificationby managerial factors among those clubs attending football premier league of Iran. This study was a descriptive, applied survey. The statistical population consisted of the fans of Iran football premier league. The sample was estimated by the statistical formula (n=865). In order to collect the data, two questionnaires: the Club Managerial Factors Questionnaire by Chen (2007) and the Team IdentificationQuestionnaire made by Wann and Branscome (1993); their reliability and validity were tested for this study (Cronbach’s alpha for Club Managerial Factors Questionnaire α=0.86 and for Team Identification Questionnaire α=0.78). To analyze the data, SPSS15 was used and the results were obtained by Pearson correlation test, liner regression analysis and Multivariate regression analysis. The results showed a positive and significant relationship between five club managerial factors and team identification(P=0.01). Among these factors, attractiveness had the strongest relationship with team identification. Also, the results of multivariate regression analysis showed that three factors of attractiveness, media and affiliation could be reliable predictors of team identification. These factors explained more than 40% of the variations of the dependent variable. As a result, the researchers suggested that these dimensions were considered as factors for success and for maintaining fans with high team identification. In other words, these factors are the essential keys to the identification of the best strategies for the clubs and have many advantages such as an increase in income, capital attraction, more ticket sales, etc.
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