The effect of computer technology in the sports information offices of the Mid-American Conference

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of computer technology in the sports information offices at the 12 universities in the Mid-American Conference. The subjects involved in this study were the sports information directors at the 12 universities. The subjects were sent a survey which included a categorical response section and an open-ended section allowing directors to respond to questions concerning computer technology at their university. The survey had 100% participation as responses were gathered from each of the 12 directors. The important findings to this study included that electronic mail and the Internet is increasing in importance in sports information. Electronic mail and the Internet provided a new and efficient means of communicating to a variety of entities by the sports information directors. However, these computer advances have, according to the directors in this study, increased the time commitments and the demands of the sports information office. In addition, this study also showed that using computers for courtside statistics and for desktop publishing are valuable and important advances in computer technology being utilized by the directors in the MidAmerican Conference.School of Physical EducationThesis (M.A.