Which research methods are used in sport management?

• A. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods
• B. Purely theoretical
• C. Only Experiments
• D. Qualitative only

Answer: (A)

In sport management research, investigators use a range of methods to answer questions about participation, performance, policy, and organizational issues. Qualitative approaches explore meaning, experience, and context through interviews, focus groups, observations, and document analysis. Quantitative approaches gather numerical data through surveys, experiments, and statistical analyses to identify patterns, relationships, and generalizable findings. Mixed-methods combine both to gain depth and breadth, allowing researchers to triangulate results and address complex questions—such as why athletes persist or how leadership styles influence team culture. Purely theoretical work or relying on a single method (like only experiments or only qualitative study) cannot capture the full scope of sport management research, so using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods best reflects how questions in this field are studied.