writing assignment

The authors acknowledge that while their research was not a historical project, using historical details on sport organization would provide insights about the conditions that prevailed in the industry during the forming period. This will help to identify what aspects have changed in terms of environmental conditions and structure of sport organization. It will also reveal if nothing has changed at all. In other words, history in sports related research matters a lot for sport managers and other interested persons. History in research can reveal the root cause of a persistent problem. For instance, the researchers sought to find out if problems such as NCAA domination in basketball governance, the conflict between amateur and professional college basketball and the role of media could have been rooted in the historical conditions that prevailed during the formation of basketball.

From the article, one may argue that historical details are very important in research. One can solve a present problem by digging deeper into the history and assessing the conditions under which something was created. Researching into the history in most cases provides clear insights into the institutional changes that have occurred. To find out about the history maters, a researcher can use secondary sources and original data contained in archives. For example, Washington and Ventresca (2008) used secondary sources and archived data on collegiate athletics to support their claim that a relationship exists between institutional conflicts and the evolutions within the organization.

Unlike previously when sport researchers relied on writing utensils, paper, highlighters, binders, dividers, note cards, organizers, photocopier, microfilm or microfiche reader, scanner, audio recorder, transcription machine to carry out historical research, today, the computer and the internet provides them with an easier approach to research (Belhaven University, 2020). Researchers can search and locate stored sources either in written formats or recorded videos to find answers to their research questions. The efficiency of historical research evidence relies on the accuracy of source identification, clear pursuit of objectivity, credibility, accuracy and originality of data analysis and accuracy of interpretation in relation to the research topic and research questions (Belhaven University, 2020).

Washington and Ventresca (2008) used historical matters to show that an institutional conflict exists in the basketball sports. The researchers found that there are logical contradictions into the actual meaning of sports and there is a governance struggle where contending associations each seek primacy in defining the rules of the amateur athletics. They conclude that although the paper relies on evidence in the 19th and 20th century, today’s sports managers can use their findings to resolve current institutional conflicts in sports. Also, the research paper provides evidence to support the claim that history matters in shaping present policy agendas and debates.

Reference

Andrew, D. P., Pedersen, P. M., & McEvoy, C. D. (2020). Research methods and design in sport management. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics.

Belhaven University. (2020). Unit 5: Research Design in Sport Management Part III. MSA 670: Capstone Seminar in Sports Administration, pp. 1-26.

Marvin Washington, M. J. (2008). Institutional Contradictions and Struggles in the Formation of U.S. Collegiate Basketball, 1880–1938. Journal of Sport Management, 30-49.