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ABSTRACT
Our purpose in this article is to examine the potential for the use of meta-analysis in sport management research. It is our concern that researchers in sport management are unable to take advantage of the benefits that a meta-analysis can offer because of issues with the way data are reported in research studies. The problems limiting the use of meta - analysis can and should be rectified. Hence, we demonstrated the value of meta-analysis along with a detailed description in how the process is conducted. To strengthen our position, we conducted a meta-study to provide readers with a quantitative summary of empirical articles related to perceived constraints on sport and leisure consumption.
Keywords: meta-analysis, constraints, sport and leisure consumption
INTRODUCTION
Meta-analysis is a statistical tool used to integrate results of empirical research that are independent from each other (Rosenblad, 2009). Results of properly conducted meta-analyses can be used to identify relevant moderators in existing research. Additionally, meta-analysis, by combining results of previous quantitative research, can determine whether findings hold in a general context (Mullen, 1986). For example, Palmatier, Dant, Grewal, and Evans (2006) used meta-analysis to better understand which relationship marketing strategies were most effective for building strong relationships, and the conditions in which relationship marketing was most effective for generating positive seller outcomes. Accordingly, meta-analysis can provide practitioners with a better understanding of which strategies were most effective. This allows scholars to increase their return on investments. Furthermore, researchers can use meta-analysis to build more comprehensive models of how relationship marketing strategies influence performance (Palmatier et al., 2006). We use Palmatier et al's meta-analysis study as an example because it is highly cited among marketing scholars. In the next paragraphs we summarize the approach taken by Palmatier et al. (2006) in their meta-analysis.
Palmatier et al. (2006) were able to systematically review and analyze past research on relational mediators in a meta-analytic framework by employing various methods for the literature search including -(1) a search of the ABI/Informs, PsycINFO, and Business Source Premier databases for each relational mediator; (2) a search of the Social Sciences Citation Index, using the seminal articles for these constructs; (3) manual shelf searches of journals that contain research on relational mediators; and (4) e-mails sent to researchers...
