Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Physical Education, Farhangian University, P.O. Box 14665-889, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Physical Education, Farhangian University, P.O. Box 14665_889, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Analyzing the Role of Social Capital in Sports Event Security Management: A Qualitative Study Based on Putnam's Theory
Abstract
This study aimed to elucidate the role of social capital in managing security at sports events in Iran, with a specific focus on three core components: trust, reciprocal norms, and collaborative networks.
Employing a qualitative research design grounded in the data theory approach, this investigation was conducted within a systematic Input-Process-Output (IPO) framework. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 key stakeholders, including security officials, sports administrators, spectators, and event organizers, and subsequently analyzed using a three-phase coding methodology (open, axial, and selective coding).
The findings demonstrate that these three dimensions of social capital serve as critical mediating factors influencing security outcomes at sporting events. The study reveals that enhanced interpersonal trust, the cultivation of responsible behavioral norms, and strengthened inter-organizational networks collectively contribute to reduced conflict incidents and improved public perceptions of safety. The proposed conceptual framework offers both theoretical and practical foundations for developing comprehensive security policies in the sports domain, suggesting a paradigm shift from purely regulatory approaches to more socially embedded security management strategies.
Keywords: Social Capital, Sports Event Security, Institutional Trust, Social Norms, Collaborative Networks, Grounded Theory.
Keywords