Mixing_Qualitative_And_Quantitative_Research_Methods

Mixing Qualitative And Quantitative Research Methods Mixing Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Sports Fan Research Introduction Although interest in the sports fan dates back to the beginning of this century, there is little empirical research on the subject (Burca, Brannick, & Meenaghan, 1996; Duke, 1991; Wann & Hamlet, 1995). Existing work has tended to favour quantitative methodologies (such as Branscombe & Wann, 1991, 1992; Hirt, Zillman, Erickson, & Kennedy, 1992; Iso-Ahola, 1980; Lee, 1980; Madrigal, 1995; Miller, 1976; Schurr, Wittig, Ruble, & Ellen, 1987; SNCCFR, 1996; 1997; Wakefield & Sloan, 1995; Wann & Branscombe, 1993). By contrast, qualitative research on the sports fan is extremely rare (such as Armstrong, 1998; Dunning, Murphy, Williams, 1987; King, 1997; Marsh, Rosser, & Harre, 1978). Although some investigations do show elements of combining qualitative and quantitative methods, few, if any, existing studies of the sports fan adopt the mixed methods approach as an explicit research strategy. This paper argues that such an approach is a worthwhile means for gaining a fuller understanding of the sports fan. “The choice of research design must be appropriate to the subject under investigation” (Patton, 1987). Thus, the nature of sports fandom will have implications for the choice of suitable methodology. Those authors who define sports fandom research, quantitative, fan, sports, qualitative, methods, fandom, analysis, 1995, wann, methodology, data, thus, design, approach, within, mixed, methodologies, branscombe, behaviour, appropriate, although, study, strengths, researcher, madrigal, behavioural, aspects, 1993, 1978, quantitative, team, strong, statistical, significant