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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Aim of abstract/paper - research question
Sport Participation (SP) is one of the most studied subjects
among the available leisure and sport literature. SP has been
studied from different perspectives. In this context, constraints
represent a large proportion of the adopted approaches.
Although these have been indiscriminately adopted,
constraints approaches are particularly relevant in studies
that focus on the general population or in non participants
samples. This wide range of works opens the door to the
identification of the main constraints and consequent
suggestion of possible propositions to facilitate the
overcoming of these barriers.
The Spanish and Portuguese ski industries are at their
early stages of development, due to the fact that these two
countries are considered as popular tourism destination for
mass summer vacation or as well known golf destinations.
However, developments in the technology of the artificial
snow production associated with the growing number of
skiers, allowed the development of ski resorts in these
countries. These ski centers could be the vehicle for
economic development and prosperity for mountain areas,
therefore contributing to the reduction of tourism seasonality,
to the development of vast mountain areas and to the
creation of employment, halting or slowing the migration
flows.
Despite the existence of several studies about leisure
constraints, the studies about SP in ski, among non
participants, are still scarce. Therefore, the main goal of the
current study is to explore the constraints related to
recreational ski participation, using the hierarchical model
initially proposed by Crawford & Godbey, (1987). More
specifically, as part of the ongoing investigation, at this
stage to test the factorial structure of the measurement model
proposed by Gilbert & Hudson (2000).
Theoretical background or literature review
Crawford, et al., (1991) proposed that leisure constraints
are categorized into three hierarchically organized levels:
intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural. This is the most
widely accepted theoretical framework for leisure constraints.
However, works about ski participation do not fully support
this model. Gilbert & Hudson (2000) and Andronikidis,
Vassiliadis, Priporas, & Kamenidou (2007) suggest the
existence of two factors or constraints categories
(intrapersonal and structural constraints).
Methodology, research design and data analysis
The questionnaire, proposed by Gilbert & Hudson (2000),
was translated into Portuguese and pre-tested. The 30 items
questionnaire contained an explanation of the study’s
purpose, along with the statements on constraints, the
instrument asked about skiing experience, likelihood of skiing
in the future, and general demographics. An invitation to
participate in the study was emailed to 1000 member of the
local academia of a small city located in the north of
Portugal. This community was chosen due to its closeness to
seven ski resorts, at a range of 300 Km (6 in Spain and one
in Portugal). Data was collected from September 2011 until
June 2012 and, at the moment, 207 answers were
received. In this sample, 53% are male, age ranges from 19
to 62 (×=30,2), 69% are single, and 18% reported
previous ski/snowboard participation.. Collected data was
analyzed through factor analysis using maximum likelihood
estimation and varimax rotation.
Results, discussion and implications/conclusions
Goodness of fit results did not confirm none of the previously
mentioned models [Ȥ 2 =1354(403df) p=0,000; CFI=0,582;
RMSA=0,103]. Consequently, the relational structure of the
variables was evaluated by an exploratory factor analysis
(EFA). EFA validity was considered good [KMO=0,821]
and revealed three factors. Two factors perfectly match the
structure proposed by Crawford, et al. (1991) and
Andronikidis, et al. (2007). These were labeled accordingly
as “intrapersonal” and “structural”. The third and new factor
(that represented four items, all of them related to price) was
labeled as “price”.
Confirmatory factor analysis indicates that the
Measurement Model (MM), in which all concepts are
represented by four or more items, revealed itself as over-
identified and displays acceptable goodness of fit values
[Ȥ 2 =165 (87df) p=0,000; CFI=0,93; RMSA=0,063].
Summing up, the analysis partially supports the works by
Crawford, et al. (1991) and Andronikidis, et al. (2007),
identifying intrapersonal and structural constraints. Our results
differ from previous studies in the identification of the
additional factor “price”. From our point of view, this can
result from several context specificities. The absence of the
interpersonal constraints may result from a collectivistic local
culture as in the case of Portugal and other Latin countries
(Jesuino, 2002). Lastly, constraints related to price may
possibly result from the fact that 60% of the sample is a
student. Another possible contributor for the price dimension
is the present European economical context which, in the
case of Portugal, has caused the decrease of the average
family total income. These conclusions demand additional
theory tests in order to verify these results and sustain
upcoming research questions.
Description
Keywords
Ski Sport participation Measurament model Tourism
Citation
Rodrigues, Pedro Miguel Monteiro; Botelho, Jéssica; Sadio, Alexandre; Miguel-Dávila, José Angel (2012). Participation constraints in ski: measurement model validation. In The 20th Conference of the European Association for Sport Management (EASM). Aalborg
Publisher
European Association for Sport Management