Business Research Methods: Part III
Quinetta Coleman, Shonte Brockman, Leroy Ducasse, Courtney Misterek, Elliott Nelson, LaMonica Smiley
QNT 561/Applied Business Research and Statistics
Dr. Charlene Dunfee
February 10, 2011
Abstract
The research study was interested in determining whether extending the regular season of the National Football League (NFL) would be agreeable to NFL players and fans. The problem exists because the NFL owners are pushing for a season extension, but also want to consider how this will impact the players. Surveys were distributed to collect data for this important topic. It was concluded that neither fans nor players want to extend the season, and it is hopeful that these results will be provided and taken into consideration before the owners make a final decision.
More of the Same Game Every year professional football keeps lovers of the game on edge, as fans watch a 16-game regular-season in anticipation of the big finale, the Super Bowl Championship. The football schedule consists of four pre-season games and 16 regular-season games. Roger S. Goodell, Commissioner of the NFL, has proposed shortening the pre-season by two games, thereby extending the regular season from 16 games to 18. The proposal by the commissioner has caused controversy between the NFL and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). With an extended season, probabilities exist that players will sustain more injuries and share less of the revenues from the games. Regardless of the threat of a strike by the players, Goodell and the NFL plan to extend the regular season schedule beginning with the 2012 season. Will the NFL approve shortening pre-season by two games and extending the regular season by two games? Or will the members of the NFLPA put an end to the concept by not playing the game at all? Problem Statement The general problem facing the commissioner of the NFL is that members of the NFLPA do not want the regular season extended to 18 games. “Under the current labor agreement, the NFL has the right to impose an 18-game schedule and play the four game pre-season without the approval of the players; the agreement expires at the end of the 2011 season” (Associated Press, 2010, p.2). “The inability of the commissioner to get the players to agree to an extended season has resulted in talks of a labor strike by the players” (Yahoo! News Network, 2010). The prediction of an 18 game schedule for the 2012 season, has constrained, negatively, efforts to reach a bargaining agreement with the players. Perhaps a study that investigates the effect a labor strike might have on the NFL could contribute a solution for getting players to agree to an extended schedule. By using a qualitative research design, composed of historical, observational, and survey data, a resolution prompting players to agree to an extended schedule may be possible. Academic Background The NFL’s Commissioner, Roger Goodell and league owners are seriously considering extending the regular season from 16 games to 18 games and reducing the pre-season from four games down to two games. Commissioner Goodell has the support of the team owners, but the players are against the extension. The players have concerns including salary and injuries. Commissioner Roger Goodell believes the extension will be good for the league by increasing revenue. Goodell thinks the concept of extending the season has gained momentum but want to gain the support of the players (Christine, 2010). The players want to ensure the revenue generated from the season extension is shared. The players want to ensure the revenue generated by the expanded regular season will be distributed to the players in addition to the owners. This concern is generated from the most recent collective bargaining agreement that technically allowed the owners to change the schedule without the players' consent; that freedom is basically stymied by the union's right to contest how players are paid (Hubbuch, 2010). Commissioner Goodell and the owners want to avoid a player strike and, will not make changes to the season without the consent of the players. This decision by Commissioner Goodell and the owners is a good sign of faith toward the players. Purpose Statement The purpose of this study is to emphasize the key points and reasoning why the NFL’s regular season schedule should be expanded and the pre-season schedule reduced. Teach Team A will discuss the current collective bargaining agreement and its current status. As the upcoming season draws near, the decision is becoming more crucial as players have decided to go on strike for the 2011-2012 seasons if an agreement cannot be made. During the first game of the 2010 season, players from the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings walked onto the field with one finger raised high in the air to show their unity as the collective bargaining agreement process moves forward (Grahm, 2010). If a lockout occurs it will mark the first time since 1982 that players went on strike. The strike lasted for 57days (Grahm, 2010). To avoid the tragedy of a strike, an agreement must be reached between February 29, 2011 and March 1, 2011 (Grahm, 2010). The economy in the United States would be greatly affected if a lockout occurred. A lockout would affect the following areas: television advertising revenue, sponsorships, and the employment rate, as many bars would go out of business and stadium personnel would be out-of-work. There has even been talk that fantasy football, which brings in an estimated five billion dollars per year would be wiped out and have a hard time regaining its popularity. The NFL is on the verge of losing billions and billions of dollars if an agreement is not reached. Research will provide a better understanding of many implications and alternatives that exist. We will indicate and describe the expiring bargaining agreement and the proposed game schedule and how it will affect the parties involved. Our research will prove not only purposeful but also mandatory in timing and nature. Significance of the Study It is hoped that the results of this research study will significantly aid in the NFL owners and players in the final decision when it is made. In addition, not only will this decision affect members of the NFL but also the state of the United States’ economy. Labor strikes have considerable impact on the economy. Organizations whose employees embark on strikes will advertently suffer because of the decline in productivity, and the bigger and longer the strike the more it will impact negatively on the economy of a country (Webika Ltd., 2011). Further, a review of the National Basketball Association (NBA) lockout during the 1998-1999 season indicated that franchises should experience significant negative economic loss…because of the lost spending…(Humphreys, 2001). Humphreys states that “no investigations of the impact of strikes or lockouts in other professional sports…have been done” (2001). Therefore, the research study on the NFL establishes a universal reason for performing this worthwhile study. This study is unique in that the research question has not been studied before, and because of the timeliness of the subject matter. It is hoped that members of the NFL will make a valid decision based on the results of this research study, which will in turn, benefit the greater good of society.

Research Question The national football league after reviewing the issue deemed this would be detrimental to game quality. According to the commissioner of the National Football League, presently the issue is quality over quantity. One of the debates focused on whether or not it would be better to have 16 very good games as oppose to 18 decent games. The concept of quality reflects on an essential and distinguishing aspect of the game as oppose to quantity that is a measure of games and is quantifiable. The other problem is over exerting players and further putting them at risk for injuries. The human body when damage over a period can repair itself but there is a process and time frame for complete healing to take place. If the season is extended the injuries among players can accumulate and become more extensive states the commissioner for the National Football League (Nflspinzone, 2010). The long season is a contributory factor to many players playing while injured for two or three weeks and why serious injuries transpire in the final week of the season (Nflspinzone, 2010). In such a violent sport, players as strong as they are can play for four month of after their bodies get tired and slow down and may give out. On all 32 teams there is much rotation among linebackers, defense lineman, running backs, wide receivers, and quarterbacks. The 18-week season would place additional pressure on players trying to perform at their highest level of proficiency. The current 16-week season for players as its own problems to consider an 18-week season would leave every position by committee (nflspinzone, 2010).

Hypothesis H0: NFL fans and players are in favor of extending the regular season by two extra games. H1: NFL fans and players are not in favor of extending the regular season by two extra games.
Definitions
American Football Conference (AFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL) (About.com, 2011).
Collective bargaining - is a process of voluntary negotiations between employers and trade unions aimed at reaching agreements which regulate working conditions (About.com, 2011).
National Football Conference (NFC) is one of the two (NFC and AFC) conferences of the National Football League (NFL) (About.com, 2011).
NFL- The NFL is the world's most popular professional football league and it is based in the United States (About.com, 2011).
Preseason- in the NFL usually lasts from the beginning of August through Labor Day, when the regular season starts (About.com, 2011).
Regular season- In the NFL, the regular season lasts for 17 weeks during which a team plays 16 games to determine their eligibility and ranking going into the playoffs (About.com, 2011).
Roster-list of players on a team (About.com,2011).
Superbowl- the National football leagues national championship game (About.com, 2011).

Research Design The research design is performed by a one-dimensional scaling method known as a Likert Scale. Because the Likert scale is one-dimensional, a set of potential scale items are created on a questionnaire type format (Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2006). This allows the participants to rate the questionnaire or Likert items on a 1-to -5 disagree or agree response type scale. After generating potential scale items and a clear understanding of the purpose statement, the questionnaire is then rated on a scale; Strongly Disagree, Somewhat Disagree, Neutral, Somewhat Agree, and Strongly Agree scale. Correlations with all scaling items on the questionnaires are then evaluated. The goal is to stay away from Likert-type items in ordered categories and too informative to the participants. The Likert scale will provide the participants a chance to become familiar with the topic as well as providing a foundation for quantitative research. The Likert scale creates an opportunity for the study to provide reliable, objective, and numerical data to the research. The targeted participants totaling 2000 includes 1000 NFL players and 1000 NFL fans with a projected response rate of 10%. The questionnaire will be administered through a website setup specifically for the randomly selected participants. The number of responding participants equated to a 3.95% statistical confidence interval in exceeding the minimum sample size requirements. The Likert scale is an effective approach because it allows participants to express feelings and concerns in a short time, which is critical for the success of the survey.

Scopes and Limitations A descriptive research design using a Likert Scale was deemed appropriate for the study because the method allows the participants, who in this case are the NFL players and American fans of the sport the ability to provide feedback. The information received would be slightly more expansive than a simple close-ended question, but much easier to quantify than a completely open-ended response (Parnaby, 2011). The independent variables of this study are as follows: the change in regular season and preseason games played and the variables within the collective bargaining agreement that has to be agreed upon between the players and team owners. The dependent variables of the study are as follows: the areas or categories that would be affected by an elongated season whether it is fan support, increased injuries sustained by players league-wide and loss in sponsorship and player endorsement.
Instruments
The instrument used in this research study is a survey. This research study is ordinal. To gain the attitudes from a wide population, the survey was given to two different groups. The demographics of the population are the NFL players and NFL fans in America. One thousand randomly selected NFL players and one thousand fans were asked to participate in an online survey. The construction of the survey reflects a Likert-type response scale. Likert surveys are widely used and very common in survey research to obtain an ordinal measure of the attitude of a person (Neumann, 2003). The Likert-scale survey ranges from 1 to 5 (see Appendixes A and B). The players and fans are given identical surveys. The participants were asked to log on to a secured website to take the survey. The survey consisted of 5 statements. The applicants were asked to rank each statement based on the scale: 1. strongly disagree 2. Somewhat Disagree 3. Neural 4. Somewhat Agree 5. Strongly agree. The responses are calculated on the corresponding numbers ranging from 1-to-5. The calculations of the responses will be discussed later in the Results section.
Validity and Reliability The “degree to which a measure supplies consistent results and with the degree to which the measurement is free of random or unstable error” (Cooper & Schindler, 2006, para. 321), describes validity and reliability in a study. The validity and reliability of this research should have relied on descriptive research, involving qualitative research methods. A Likert scale and survey were the instruments used to measure attitudes of NFL fans and NFL players, a biased group. The data collection process involved no questions that provided relevant information to the problem statement. No one involved in the study represented experts or decision-makers. In the study, change in regular season and pre-season games played represent independent variables. The collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA represents the dependent variable. The survey does not provide information relevant to the problem statement or the purpose of the study. This study is neither verifiable nor reliable.
Methodology Appropriateness Quantitative research is designed to tell researchers how and why things happen as they do, and includes an “array of interpretive techniques which seek to describe, decode, translate, and otherwise come to terms with the meaning…of naturally occurring phenomena in the social world” (Cooper & Schindler, 2006). A number of different methodologies exist in research design. The research question posed is quantitative and the appropriate methodology must be used to ensure quality data and solid research. This research study will use a survey to collect data from a target population. A small sample will be chosen to represent the population, and it will reflect the same characteristics of the population from which it is taken. The researchers will use nonprobability sampling, which means that little attempt is made to generate a representative sample (Cooper & Schindler, 2006). Specifically, convenience sampling will be advantageous as the researchers can select any readily available individual to participate. Causal research is most appropriate for this research study, in that the researchers want to determine if lengthening the regular season will lead to a strike by the NFL players. This causal study will attempt to discover the effect that a variable has on another, or why certain outcomes are obtainable. Productions of inductive conclusions are through testing the hypothesis. The causal tested hypothesis will do three things: measuring the co variation among variables, determining the time order relationship among variables, and ensuring that other factors do not confound the explanatory relationships (Cooper & Schindler, 2006).
Data Analysis Data analysis involves reducing the accumulated data to a manageable size, developing summaries, looking for patterns, and applying statistical techniques (Cooper & Schindler, 2006). This quantitative research study drew its data based on surveys given to 1,000 NFL players and 1,000 fans. 200 of the 2,000 surveys were answered and returned, 100 from each group. Surveys were utilized to gather information from the aforementioned groups, who will provide the data needed to make a sound decision for the upcoming 2011 NFL season. Statistical analysis using a z-test suggested that neither than fans nor the players want to extend the season. The surveys also provided the NFL with information related to the players possibly going on strike, should the season be extended. The results concluded that it would not be beneficial to the organization should it decide to lengthen its regular season. The NFL will continue to work with its players in order to come to a mutual agreement. By ensuring that the NFL players will continue to play, it will be more beneficial to the state of the economy and the financial well-being of the organization.
Implications
The results of the data presented information used for analysis. The Likert scale, used to measure participants feeling and concerns, offered an effective approach for measurement because it allowed information collection in a short time of period. Extension of the regular season to 18 games is an issue requiring immediate resolution as the current labor agreement expires in March 2011. Analysis of the information revealed that fans of the NFL are not in favor of extending the regular season to 18 games. Implications of extending the regular season include a strike by the players and a lock-out by the owners of the NFL teams.
Recommendations
This quantitative research study addressed the following problem: the members of the NFLPA do not want the regular season extended to 18 games. Attempts to gather information relevant to the problem did not yield information that offered a resolution to the problem. The Likert scale used in the research measured the feelings and concerns of the fans and the players; the scale did not measure any long-term effects to players, the economy, or other effects an extension may have. It is the recommendation of the team that future research should include medical research. Investigations should be made that include information about effects of more games on players. Studies should be made that include the positive and negative implications of a longer season. Based on the information from the Likert scale, the recommendation of A-team is that the regular season remains at 16 games. The result of the survey revealed that neither the players nor the fans were in favor of extending the season to 18 games.
Conclusion
The results of the analysis and statistical data are drawn from the thesis statement of whether the NFL should extend the season from 16 to 18 games. The purpose of the research is from a quantitative perspective to determine the benefits of the additional two weeks. The team used a Likert scale in the research design to measure for approval or disapproval in the questionnaire. The scope and limitations identified restrictions and areas covered and not covered within the research. The instruments are the mechanics used to perform the process and the methodology appropriateness distinguishes reason events happen with practices and procedures with rules of engagement. Testing the null hypothesis determined whether or not there was a relationship between two variables, fans verse players. To determine the criterion of statistical significance with the null and alternate hypothesis the team performed a statistics test. The statistics test determined how much data needed to be collected to detect any significant deviation between the null hypothesis and analysis. The team screened the data for entry errors, unbelievable values, and violation of assumptions of the planned statistical analysis. The team also computed basic descriptive statistics necessary to determine the effect on the hypothesis. The team obtained statistical data from the P-value and compared the criterion of significance to give a statistical conclusion. The test is parametric hypothesis, which states the null hypothesis as (HO). The null hypothesis determined whether the known (z) is within parameters of the critical value or in a range of values in the test. The statistical conclusion drawn from the raw data are discrepant with rejecting the null hypothesis and concluding that the NFL should not extended the regular season by two games.

REFERENCES
About.com. (2011). Football Glossary. Retrieved from http://football.about.com/od/football101/a/Football-Glossary.htm
Bright HUB. (2011). Simplifying the Likert Scale. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/13507.aspx
Cooper, D.R. & Schindler, P.S. (2006). Business research methods (9th Ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
Excel4Marking. (2010). Likert Scale. Retrieved from http://excel4marketing.com/likert.html
Parnaby, P. (2011). Evaluation through surveys. Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement (IDEA). Retrieved from http://www.idea.org/page102.html
Research Methods Knowledge Base. (2006). Likert Scaling. Retrieved from http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/scallik.php

APPENDIX A: NFL PLAYER SURVEY
NFL PLAYER SURVEY
|NFL Season |1 |2 Somewhat |3 |4 Somewhat Agree|5 |
|Extension Survey |Strongly |Disagree |Neutral | |Strongly Agree |
| |Disagree | | | | |
|The NFL season should be extended from 16 to | | | | | |
|18 games. | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|A season extension would increase player | | | | | |
|injuries. | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|The fans would support the season extension. | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|Extending the season would not cause a player| | | | | |
|strike. | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|Both the owners and players would benefit | | | | | |
|from a season extension. | | | | | |

APPENDIX B: NFL FAN SURVEY
FAN SURVEY
|NFL Season |1 |2 Somewhat |3 |4 Somewhat Agree|5 |
|Extension Survey |Strongly |Disagree |Neutral | |Strongly Agree |
| |Disagree | | | | |
|The NFL season should be extended from 16 to | | | | | |
|18 games. | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|A season extension would increase player | | | | | |
|injuries. | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|The fans would support the season extension. | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|Extending the season would not cause a player| | | | | |
|strike. | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|Both the owners and players would benefit | | | | | |
|from a season extension. | | | | | |