Doctoral Dissertations
Date of Award
5-2022
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Major
Sports Management
Major Professor
Sylvia Trendafilova
Committee Members
Jeffrey A. Graham, James H. Bemiller, Jennifer A. Morrow
Abstract
Students studying sport management should be aware of the current environmental challenges in sport. Hence, as professionals, they will be better prepared to deal with issues that negatively affect the sport sector. The expansion of educational opportunities is needed for students to reflect the sport industry's implementation of sustainability into operations. Understanding students' awareness of environmental sustainability is critical to educating them better to manage such challenges during their sports careers.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate undergraduate and graduate sport management students' values, beliefs, and norms relating to environmental sustainability in higher education institutions across North America. Using Stern’s Value-Belief-Norm Theory, a survey was developed to gather data to determine environmental awareness, students' personal sustainable behaviors, beliefs about businesses and sport organizations' sustainable behaviors, and students’ awareness of environmental sustainability in sport. Higher education institutions can use this information to develop curricula to educate future sports professionals better.
Findings indicated that students expect sport organizations to incorporate environmental sustainability strategies into daily operations more than other organizations. Students were aware of and participated in sustainable measures (e.g., recycling) at sporting events, and they desired to work for a sports organization that supports environmental sustainability. However, they were unwilling to pay more for a ticket to promote sustainability. Furthermore, while there was no statistically significant difference between the values, beliefs, and norms of undergraduate and graduate students, there was a significant statistical difference in behaviors. Variations in environmental educational possibilities, exposure to on-campus environmental efforts, sporting activities, or simply personal experiences, such as where they reside, could explain the differences. Awareness of environmental sustainability may not be sufficient to facilitate action; knowledge is what may be necessary to connect the gap. To be successful, future sport management professionals will need to learn about environmental sustainability, which will necessitate a collaborative effort between higher education institutions and the industry to provide more educational and practical opportunities for students.
Recommended Citation
Pelcher, Jamee Ann, "ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN SPORT: AN ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES, BELIEFS, NORMS OF SPORT MANAGEMENT STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2022.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/7209