Meta-Analysis of Studies of Factors and Barriers Affecting Sports Support in Iran

The aim of this study was to meta-analyze the factors and barriers affecting sports support. The research method was meta-analysis. The statistical population included all scientific sources reported in the field of effective factors in supporting investment in sports in the period 2006 to 2020. From the statistical population, 10 studies that met the criteria for entering the meta-analysis were selected as a research sample through the census method. A total of 68 factors were extracted from the sample research and classified into eight main categories of media, sales-customer-competition, economic, socio-cultural, managerial, advertising, structural and other factors and entered the meta-analysis process. Cohen D index was designated as the effect size index. Orwin's funnel diagram and safe test were used to investigate the presence of diffusion bias and the result of both methods showed no diffusion bias. The results of Cochran's Q test (Q = 1024.62, df = 67, p <0.001) and I squared (93.46) showed the existence of heterogeneity in the size of the research effect which was equal to 0.89 and according to Cohen's classification, it is a large effect size. In addition, due to the existing heterogeneity, the effect size was calculated based on subgroups and managerial factors (1.25) and economic factors (1.03) had the highest effect size, respectively. Sports managers should develop media coverage and appropriate advertising facilities in order to remove barriers to attracting sponsors of sports so that sponsors invest more confidently in the sports industry.