Title: The recreational sport participation scale: development, testing and practical application

Authors: Thomas S. Mueller

Addresses: Department of Communication, Appalachian State University, P.O. Box 9143, Boone, NC 28608, USA

Abstract: Participation in recreational sport is growing dramatically on a global basis and attracts millions of athletes. Sport event managers are consistently working to employ techniques that attract participants and increase economic impact. In order better understand recreational sport athletes, scholars and practitioners contend that research is needed to substantiate a comprehensive measurement with multiple variables. This study adhered to a multistage research design to develop and test the reliability and validity of a recreational sport participation scale (RSPS). Recreational sport was explored through active, serious and casual leisure. The proposed scale indicated five significant facets ('challenge', 'victory', 'sensory', 'workout' and 'social'). The dimensions were tested through confirmatory factor analysis and produced acceptable reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and model fit. Event promoters are encouraged to utilise the recreational sport participation scale to benchmark and measure the dimensions of motivation among recreationists. Marketing messages designed for distinct sport subcultures will aid in attracting sponsors and assist in increasing consumption values among this desirable segment of consumers.

Keywords: sport participation; recreational sports; sport events; recreational sport athletes; recreational sport participation scale; leisure sports; event promoters; sport subcultures; sport involvement; sport motivation; sport marketing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2012.052663

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2012 Vol.12 No.3/4, pp.144 - 158

Received: 26 Dec 2011
Accepted: 10 Sep 2012
Published online: 31 Jul 2014 *

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