Statistical preparation in master’s programme of sport management

Abstract

Although statistics education is the foundation for a core analytical ability required in many workplaces and in doctoral study, little is known about the preparation of statistics training of sport management graduates enrolled in master’s programmes in the United States (U.S.). Technological advances are changing the game experience through the enormous amounts of data produced. The purpose of this descriptive and exploratory study was to examine the current state of statistics requirements for master’s programmes in sport management and to make recommendations for students’ statistics preparation towards workplace demands and doctoral study. Data was collected from the websites of all 241 sport management programmes that offer master’s degrees across the U.S. Each school’s website for plans of study and/or graduate curriculum requirements in statistics was examined. Results showed that only 5.8% of programmes require an undergraduate level statistics course as an admission criterion, and 33.2% of programmes require a master’s level statistics course for programme completion. Reflecting trends toward the progressive growth of statistical analysis in the field, sport management programmes should improve the statistics preparation of master’s students.

Keywords: Evidence-based practice; Post-graduate qualification; Sport Management; Statistics.