Online Research Methods in Sport Studies

The internet and digital technologies have transformed sport and the way that we research sport, opening up new ways to analyse sport organisations, fan communities, networks, athletes, the media, and other key stakeholders in the field. This engaging and innovative book offers a complete introduction to online research methods in sport studies, guiding the reader through the entire research process, and bringing that process to life with sport-related cases and examples.

Covering both qualitative and quantitative methods, the book introduces key topics such as generating a research idea, implementing the research design, maintaining good ethical standards, and collecting, analysing and presenting data. It explains how to conduct online surveys, online interviews, and online ethnography in practice, and every chapter contains individual and group activities to encourage the reader to engage with real online research, as well as further reading suggestions to help them develop their knowledge.

Online Research Methods in Sport Studies is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students, academics, and researchers with an interest in sport studies, and is a useful reference for practitioners working in sport or sport media who want to improve their professional research skills.

Jamie Cleland is based in the School of Management at the University of South Australia, Australia. His research often uses online research methods to explore a range of social issues in sport.

Kevin Dixon is based in the School of Health and Life Sciences at Teesside University, UK. His research focuses on the social scientific study of sport and leisure cultures.

Daniel Kilvington is based in the School of Cultural Studies and Humanities at Leeds Beckett University, UK. His teaching and research focus on ‘race’, sport, and new media.