Siddharth Karnala
Power Soccer: Expanding Engagement Through Social Media
Methods
I collected data with the use of three methods: a focus group, interviews, and a survey. The criteria to participate in my study was organized by these requirements: involvement in the sport of power soccer as a player, coach, parent, volunteer, or referee and active use of social media primarily Facebook. The focus group and interviews were conducted with members of my team: teammates and our head coach while the survey expanded to reach out to members of my power soccer network on Facebook, asking questions based on four main categories that answer my research question.The main challenge was obtaining enough survey responses, which I am resolving by individually contacting my connections.
Research Question
The question I set out to answer is: How can social media be utilized to facilitate engagement in the community of power soccer?. According to my data, social media can increase awareness of the sport and show that individuals with disabilities are just as capable as able-bodied people, but can be further improved.
Hypothesis
I hypothesized that: Social media can be used as a portal for participants to share their experiences and information about power soccer to encourage others to participate. My data confirms this hypothesis by depicting its power to share personal experiences and information about power soccer to enhance engagement and spread the word to others.
Brief Summary Statement
Social media is a tool changing the landscape of engagement in power soccer, but posts need more frequency and personal appeal to maximize its potential.