Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1982

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major Professor

William C. Robinson

Committee Members

J. Michael Pemberton, Gary R. Purcell

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not review sources are keeping up with the rising bibliographic output of sport books. Because "sport" does cover a huge range of activities, six sports—bicycling; hiking; fishing (freshwater); tennis; canoe, kayak, or river run; and golf--were selected to serve as representative sports. The study was limited to the two major review sources used by libraries: Book Review Digest (BRD) and Book Review Index (BRI), and covered 1970-1980.

Having selected a sample of 580 books, several hypotheses were established. In order to test these hypotheses as well as to examine the data in terms of relationships between variables, a code sheet of variables and values was also established in preparation for use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Numerous SPSS programs were then run to test the 5 hypotheses as well as to further examine the data in terms of relationships between variables, and included the following findings:

1. The number of sports books published has increased since 1970.

2. With the exception of 1971, the number of sports books reviewed each year since 1970 has increased.

3. Every year since 1970 represents a decrease in the percentage of sports books reviewed.

4. Out of the total sample of 580 books, BRD contained only one book review which was not also in BRI.

5. The number of books on fastest growing sports being reviewed has increased more than the number of most popular sports books being reviewed.

6. Of the total sample, 36% were reviewed by sources indexed by BRI, 8% by sources indexed by both BRI and BRD, and 0.2% by sources indexed by BRD. Since 1970 BRI's exclusive coverage has increased, the combined coverage decreased, and BRD's exclusive coverage was but one of the 580 books.

7. After 1970, the number of books reviewed and indexed in BRI is at least three times greater than the number of books reviewed and indexed in both sources.

Several conclusions were reached from these findings, and include the following:

1. The number of sports books published has increased since 1970, and the percentage of sports books reviewed has declined.

The implication of this trend is that the two major review indexing sources, BRI and BRD, may not be keeping pace with the tremendous growth of interest in sports books. At the same time, adequate review coverage of sports books should concern librarians because individuals interested in sports books now constitute a very large number of library patrons. Further research covering other sports is needed, however, because the six selected sports chosen for this study may not adequately represent the overall trend in sports books review coverage.

2. BRI is a much better source than BRD for sports books reviews. In fact, BRI's coverage of sports books is so much greater than BRD's that libraries only able to afford BRD would appear to be at a considerable disadvantage in terms of sports books selection compared to libraries having access to BRI or both sources.

3. There is more of an increase in the number of books on fastest growing sports being reviewed than the number of most popular sports books being reviewed.

This is a very desirable trend based on the assumption that many libraries already have popular sports books collections and are presently concerned with adding books on sports which are increasing in popularity. Because both popular and fastest-growing sports do change over time, however, future periodic monitoring of review sources seems essential.

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