I am currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management. My research centers on social media and the influence these technologies exert on media, organizations, identity expression, and culture primarily in the context of sport. I also maintain research interests focused on health communication, particularly in examining how health and safety issues in sport are discussed and framed in the media, along with how sport influences and shapes family communication and interaction.
Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, 2020
This research examined student-athletes' usage of and motivations for playing the video game Fort... more This research examined student-athletes' usage of and motivations for playing the video game Fortnite. Social video games such as Fortnite are growing in popularity and athletes have become a visible consumer group. Semi-structured interviews with 22 Division-I student athletes were conducted. Analysis of the interviews generated six usage and motivational The results suggest that video games such as Fortnite provide meaningful social connection fulfillment needs for student-athletes, and also allow them to interact with fans and student-athletes at other schools. Yet, Fortnite also fosters addictive tendencies that can negatively impact their academic performance and well-being. Accordingly, coaches and others student-athlete support personnel can use video games to help student-athletes meet socialization needs while also promoting educational programming to help them minimize negative effects.
This research explored cultures of silence around child sexual abuse (CSA). On July 10,
2018, in... more This research explored cultures of silence around child sexual abuse (CSA). On July 10,
2018, in response to multiple sexual abuse cases occurring in sport, sport news site
Deadspin published a reader letter detailing CSA. This article prompted others to
comment by sharing their accounts of CSA. Through qualitative analysis of 47 posts,
we analyzed CSA victims’ lived experiences, with a focus on how cultural and social
forces silenced them. Results indicated that silencing of CSA victims occurred through
three overarching mechanisms: (a) patriarchal master narrative; (b) trauma-related
shame; and (c) systemic power. The results illuminate the cultural and social factors
that CSA victims experience and provide opportunities for parents, family members,
and other stakeholders to better understand these constraints. In doing so, victims can
be better supported, and needed discourse on CSA can occur more frequently to help
identify solutions to this pervasive social problem.
Data analytics have become a significant evaluation mechanism within professional baseball to obj... more Data analytics have become a significant evaluation mechanism within professional baseball to objectively quantify performance. This trend also has integrated into youth baseball through statistical applications that digitally capture and evaluate player performance. This essay examines the influence of baseball stat-tracking app GameChanger in the context of Little League Baseball and how it positions players, parents, and coaches to understand responsible citizenship through neoliberal risk management. The essay considers how risk management quantification and its accompanying development of responsible citizenship through GameChanger impact each of these stakeholder groups. As statistical evaluation becomes more commonplace in Little League Baseball, it shifts the Little League Experience into a more quantified, risk-management enterprise. In doing so, the experience becomes altered by enhancing opportunities for those players whom data suggest possess the maximum utility for production.
Athletes who sustain concussions endure a variety of physical, mental, emotional, and social isol... more Athletes who sustain concussions endure a variety of physical, mental, emotional, and social isolation effects as they rehabilitate. Accordingly, concussion recovery can induce grieving processes as athletes navigate the loss of athletic participation, social networks, and daily routine disruption. This research sought to gain a richer understanding of athletes' lived experiences with concussions through grief discourse shared in online narratives. Through an analysis of athletes' experiences shared via 58 blog posts on three concussion websites, the data reveal how athletes frame the losses that concussions bring into their lives, the subsequent feelings and expressions that result, along with how they eventually cope. The information disclosed in these online spaces can benefit parents, friends, coaches, and others to better understand concussion recovery, thereby enhancing their supportive communication and behaviors towards athletes as they rehabilitate from concussions.
On August 5, 2014, the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA) made histor... more On August 5, 2014, the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA) made history by hiring Becky Hammon as the first full-time, paid assistant coach in mainstream North American sport. Ham-mon's hiring provided an impetus to examine how Twitter opened avenues for discussions around gender in sport culture to generate and permeate. Using Radian6 social media extraction software a sample of 1,434 tweets were obtained. A thematic analysis was conducted and revealed three themes: (a) opening the space for conversation; (b) offering evidence of sport cultural change; and (c) expressing resistance to sport cultural change. The results suggest that Twitter functions as a space where aspects of sport culture are disseminated and contested in ways that transcend traditional media's treatment of these topics. As people share content that is personally meaningful and relevant and participate in shared conversations about sport cultural issues, it invites them to engage in active citizenry through joining in these discussions.
Football player safety, specifically concussions, has been a growing area of debate in U.S. mains... more Football player safety, specifically concussions, has been a growing area of debate in U.S. mainstream media. Whereas many of these discussions are centered on the health effects experienced by former players, active National Football League (NFL) players often discursively minimize concussions. However, in March 2015, 24-year-old, San Francisco 49ers player Chris Borland voluntarily retired, specifically citing concerns about the health risks associated with concussions sustained while playing football. A textual analysis of 112 digital media and 187 print media articles revealed 10 frames that were used to discuss Borland's decision. Analysis revealed that the most prominent frame used in media outlets was centered on the health risks and consequences of playing football, while other frames discussed parental choice and social mobility associated with football. The results suggest that decisions by NFL players with respect to concussions can be framed in the context of larger social and cultural issues. As this occurs, conversations around safety, masculinity, and football move beyond the microlevel of participation, capturing macrolevel elements, such as parental consent, socioeconomic status, and health prioritization that factor into football participation.
This research applied muted group theory to investigate female and male athletes' experiences wit... more This research applied muted group theory to investigate female and male athletes' experiences with not reporting concussions sustained during athletic competition. Using snowball-sampling techniques, a total of 365 women and 247 men completed an online open-ended questionnaire about their reasons for not reporting a concussion. Results indicated that male athletes were more likely to continue to play through and not report a concussion than female athletes. Participants also indicated that they did not report concussions due to (a) perceived lack of resources, (b) perceived lack of severity, (c) conformance to sport cultural norms, which was comprised of two subthemes: adherence to the pain principle and team allegiance. The results suggest that efforts to address concussion management in sport need to focus on the communicative and structural elements that privilege hegemonic
This research explores how a Twitter public relations campaign was hijacked by audiences through ... more This research explores how a Twitter public relations campaign was hijacked by audiences through an investigation of the #AskJameis campaign employed by Florida State University (FSU). A thematic analysis of 1214 tweets revealed that the hashtag was hijacked through audience members mocking and criticizing both FSU and Jameis Winston. The results suggest that PR professionals must account for the anticipated “pulse” of the audience before launching campaigns on social media. Underestimating the capabilities of the active social media audience can further exacerbate crisis situations, suggesting that at times, not using social media is a more effective public relations practice.
Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, 2020
This research examined student-athletes' usage of and motivations for playing the video game Fort... more This research examined student-athletes' usage of and motivations for playing the video game Fortnite. Social video games such as Fortnite are growing in popularity and athletes have become a visible consumer group. Semi-structured interviews with 22 Division-I student athletes were conducted. Analysis of the interviews generated six usage and motivational The results suggest that video games such as Fortnite provide meaningful social connection fulfillment needs for student-athletes, and also allow them to interact with fans and student-athletes at other schools. Yet, Fortnite also fosters addictive tendencies that can negatively impact their academic performance and well-being. Accordingly, coaches and others student-athlete support personnel can use video games to help student-athletes meet socialization needs while also promoting educational programming to help them minimize negative effects.
This research explored cultures of silence around child sexual abuse (CSA). On July 10,
2018, in... more This research explored cultures of silence around child sexual abuse (CSA). On July 10,
2018, in response to multiple sexual abuse cases occurring in sport, sport news site
Deadspin published a reader letter detailing CSA. This article prompted others to
comment by sharing their accounts of CSA. Through qualitative analysis of 47 posts,
we analyzed CSA victims’ lived experiences, with a focus on how cultural and social
forces silenced them. Results indicated that silencing of CSA victims occurred through
three overarching mechanisms: (a) patriarchal master narrative; (b) trauma-related
shame; and (c) systemic power. The results illuminate the cultural and social factors
that CSA victims experience and provide opportunities for parents, family members,
and other stakeholders to better understand these constraints. In doing so, victims can
be better supported, and needed discourse on CSA can occur more frequently to help
identify solutions to this pervasive social problem.
Data analytics have become a significant evaluation mechanism within professional baseball to obj... more Data analytics have become a significant evaluation mechanism within professional baseball to objectively quantify performance. This trend also has integrated into youth baseball through statistical applications that digitally capture and evaluate player performance. This essay examines the influence of baseball stat-tracking app GameChanger in the context of Little League Baseball and how it positions players, parents, and coaches to understand responsible citizenship through neoliberal risk management. The essay considers how risk management quantification and its accompanying development of responsible citizenship through GameChanger impact each of these stakeholder groups. As statistical evaluation becomes more commonplace in Little League Baseball, it shifts the Little League Experience into a more quantified, risk-management enterprise. In doing so, the experience becomes altered by enhancing opportunities for those players whom data suggest possess the maximum utility for production.
Athletes who sustain concussions endure a variety of physical, mental, emotional, and social isol... more Athletes who sustain concussions endure a variety of physical, mental, emotional, and social isolation effects as they rehabilitate. Accordingly, concussion recovery can induce grieving processes as athletes navigate the loss of athletic participation, social networks, and daily routine disruption. This research sought to gain a richer understanding of athletes' lived experiences with concussions through grief discourse shared in online narratives. Through an analysis of athletes' experiences shared via 58 blog posts on three concussion websites, the data reveal how athletes frame the losses that concussions bring into their lives, the subsequent feelings and expressions that result, along with how they eventually cope. The information disclosed in these online spaces can benefit parents, friends, coaches, and others to better understand concussion recovery, thereby enhancing their supportive communication and behaviors towards athletes as they rehabilitate from concussions.
On August 5, 2014, the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA) made histor... more On August 5, 2014, the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA) made history by hiring Becky Hammon as the first full-time, paid assistant coach in mainstream North American sport. Ham-mon's hiring provided an impetus to examine how Twitter opened avenues for discussions around gender in sport culture to generate and permeate. Using Radian6 social media extraction software a sample of 1,434 tweets were obtained. A thematic analysis was conducted and revealed three themes: (a) opening the space for conversation; (b) offering evidence of sport cultural change; and (c) expressing resistance to sport cultural change. The results suggest that Twitter functions as a space where aspects of sport culture are disseminated and contested in ways that transcend traditional media's treatment of these topics. As people share content that is personally meaningful and relevant and participate in shared conversations about sport cultural issues, it invites them to engage in active citizenry through joining in these discussions.
Football player safety, specifically concussions, has been a growing area of debate in U.S. mains... more Football player safety, specifically concussions, has been a growing area of debate in U.S. mainstream media. Whereas many of these discussions are centered on the health effects experienced by former players, active National Football League (NFL) players often discursively minimize concussions. However, in March 2015, 24-year-old, San Francisco 49ers player Chris Borland voluntarily retired, specifically citing concerns about the health risks associated with concussions sustained while playing football. A textual analysis of 112 digital media and 187 print media articles revealed 10 frames that were used to discuss Borland's decision. Analysis revealed that the most prominent frame used in media outlets was centered on the health risks and consequences of playing football, while other frames discussed parental choice and social mobility associated with football. The results suggest that decisions by NFL players with respect to concussions can be framed in the context of larger social and cultural issues. As this occurs, conversations around safety, masculinity, and football move beyond the microlevel of participation, capturing macrolevel elements, such as parental consent, socioeconomic status, and health prioritization that factor into football participation.
This research applied muted group theory to investigate female and male athletes' experiences wit... more This research applied muted group theory to investigate female and male athletes' experiences with not reporting concussions sustained during athletic competition. Using snowball-sampling techniques, a total of 365 women and 247 men completed an online open-ended questionnaire about their reasons for not reporting a concussion. Results indicated that male athletes were more likely to continue to play through and not report a concussion than female athletes. Participants also indicated that they did not report concussions due to (a) perceived lack of resources, (b) perceived lack of severity, (c) conformance to sport cultural norms, which was comprised of two subthemes: adherence to the pain principle and team allegiance. The results suggest that efforts to address concussion management in sport need to focus on the communicative and structural elements that privilege hegemonic
This research explores how a Twitter public relations campaign was hijacked by audiences through ... more This research explores how a Twitter public relations campaign was hijacked by audiences through an investigation of the #AskJameis campaign employed by Florida State University (FSU). A thematic analysis of 1214 tweets revealed that the hashtag was hijacked through audience members mocking and criticizing both FSU and Jameis Winston. The results suggest that PR professionals must account for the anticipated “pulse” of the audience before launching campaigns on social media. Underestimating the capabilities of the active social media audience can further exacerbate crisis situations, suggesting that at times, not using social media is a more effective public relations practice.
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Papers by Jimmy Sanderson
2018, in response to multiple sexual abuse cases occurring in sport, sport news site
Deadspin published a reader letter detailing CSA. This article prompted others to
comment by sharing their accounts of CSA. Through qualitative analysis of 47 posts,
we analyzed CSA victims’ lived experiences, with a focus on how cultural and social
forces silenced them. Results indicated that silencing of CSA victims occurred through
three overarching mechanisms: (a) patriarchal master narrative; (b) trauma-related
shame; and (c) systemic power. The results illuminate the cultural and social factors
that CSA victims experience and provide opportunities for parents, family members,
and other stakeholders to better understand these constraints. In doing so, victims can
be better supported, and needed discourse on CSA can occur more frequently to help
identify solutions to this pervasive social problem.
2018, in response to multiple sexual abuse cases occurring in sport, sport news site
Deadspin published a reader letter detailing CSA. This article prompted others to
comment by sharing their accounts of CSA. Through qualitative analysis of 47 posts,
we analyzed CSA victims’ lived experiences, with a focus on how cultural and social
forces silenced them. Results indicated that silencing of CSA victims occurred through
three overarching mechanisms: (a) patriarchal master narrative; (b) trauma-related
shame; and (c) systemic power. The results illuminate the cultural and social factors
that CSA victims experience and provide opportunities for parents, family members,
and other stakeholders to better understand these constraints. In doing so, victims can
be better supported, and needed discourse on CSA can occur more frequently to help
identify solutions to this pervasive social problem.