Researching motivation of users for following athletes on social networks

U ovom radu istraživalo se koji su to motivi korisnika za praćenjem sportaša na društvenim mrežama. Nadalje, cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi razloge zbog kojih individualci koriste navedenu društvenu mrežu kao medij putem kojega prate omiljene sportaše te predložiti model koji će pomoći u razumijevanju ovog ponašanja. Podaci su se prikupljali iz primarnih i sekundarnih izvora. Istraživanje koje se provelo bilo je kvantitativno (opisno), a kao instrument istraživanja koristio se visoko strukturirani anketni upitnik koji je poslan prigodnom uzorku pratitelja sportaša putem društvenih mreža. U anketnom upitniku koristila se Likertova skala u kojoj su ispitanici izražavali stupanj slaganja ili neslaganja sa ponuđenim tvrdnjama te od kombinacije pitanja otvorenog i zatvorenog tipa, a poslan je putem e-maila, WhatsApp i Viber aplikacije te kroz društvene mreže Facebook i Instagram. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su kako je motiv za praćenjem sportaša na društvenim mrežama ponajviše motiv vezan uz zabavu i informacije te da se marketinške strategije trebaju provoditi kroz takvu vrstu sadržaja. Također su se pojavili i novi motivi za praćenjem sportaša koji su vezani uz prehranu i tjelovježbu, marketing odnosa na način da sportaši dijele svoj privatan život sa pratiteljima na društvenim mrežama te dodatno motiv koji pridaje važnost društvenoj odgovornosti sportaša.In this thesis author researched the motives of users for following anthletes on social networks. Furthermore, the aim of this thesis was to determine what are the motives that users are using to follow athleetes on social networks and to propose a model which will help with understanding of this behaviour. Collected data were form primary and secondary sources. Conducted research was quantitative (descriptive) and as an instrument of research was used highly structured survey questionnaire which was sent to a convenient sample of athlete followers through social networks. The Likert's scale was used in survey, in which respondents expressed a degree of agreement or disagreement with the offered claims, and a combination of open and closed type questions, and was sent through e-mail, WhatsApp and Viber app, and through the social networks Facebook and Instagram. This research showed that the biggest motive for following athleetes on social networks is mostly a motive related to entertainment and information, and that marketing strategies should be implemented through that type of content. Also, research showed that there are new motives that are important, and they re related to following athletes that are related to healthy food and workout, also marketing of relationship in a way that athletes are sharing their private life with their followers and the last one is attention on social responsibility of athlete