CHFA | Psychology Department Showcase: Completed Projects
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Psychology
Minor
Cognitive Science
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Daniel L. Wann, PhD.
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Striking Out or Hitting a Homer: Relationship between Sport Fandom and Dating
Emily H. Kinsey
Murray State University
Sport fandom runs deeper than simply cheering for a favorite team. Rather, it assists in meeting powerful, innate human needs, such as sharing a connection that facilitates the need to belong (Wann & James, 2019). Previous research has suggested that men with a high interest in sport tend to view females who share this high level of interest more positively than females showing little interest in sport (Wann, Schinner, & Keenan, 2001). Given this, I was interested in extending this line of research to relationships between level of sport fandom and desired traits in a romantic partner (i.e., dating traits). The current investigation examined the relationship between sport fandom and traits desired in a romantic partner. It was predicted that there would be a positive relationship between sport fandom and sport fandom as a desired trait in romantic partners. The sample (n = 54) consisted of 18–24-year-old students attending Murray State University. Questionnaires were completed in university classrooms and respondents received class extra credit for participation. As predicted, sport fandom was significantly correlated with beliefs that sport fandom is an important trait when choosing dating partners (r = .64, p < .001). Sport fandom was also found to be the least important dating trait of the seven traits studied.
Spring Scholars Week 2023 Event
Psychology: Completed Projects
Included in
Striking Out or Hitting a Homer: Relationship between Sport Fandom and Dating
Striking Out or Hitting a Homer: Relationship between Sport Fandom and Dating
Emily H. Kinsey
Murray State University
Sport fandom runs deeper than simply cheering for a favorite team. Rather, it assists in meeting powerful, innate human needs, such as sharing a connection that facilitates the need to belong (Wann & James, 2019). Previous research has suggested that men with a high interest in sport tend to view females who share this high level of interest more positively than females showing little interest in sport (Wann, Schinner, & Keenan, 2001). Given this, I was interested in extending this line of research to relationships between level of sport fandom and desired traits in a romantic partner (i.e., dating traits). The current investigation examined the relationship between sport fandom and traits desired in a romantic partner. It was predicted that there would be a positive relationship between sport fandom and sport fandom as a desired trait in romantic partners. The sample (n = 54) consisted of 18–24-year-old students attending Murray State University. Questionnaires were completed in university classrooms and respondents received class extra credit for participation. As predicted, sport fandom was significantly correlated with beliefs that sport fandom is an important trait when choosing dating partners (r = .64, p < .001). Sport fandom was also found to be the least important dating trait of the seven traits studied.