Research on Educational Sport

Identifying and Prioritizing the Factors Affecting the Development of the Quality of Services of Sports Complexes of the Education Department

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

sedigheh Eslami 1
Fatemeh Kamai 2

1 Assistant Professor in Sport Management, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 M.A. in Sport Management, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22089/res.2025.17166.2570
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Background and Purpose
Physical education and school sports are integral components of the school’s educational program and essential to the holistic development of children, adolescents, and young people. Sports spaces and facilities should be designed, constructed, and developed to enable effective utilization by students. This consideration must be incorporated in both the planning and use of sports facilities, addressing students’ physical health needs and fostering social relationships deemed necessary by society.
Therefore, it is essential to identify the factors contributing to the development of service quality in sports complexes and to design strategies for their continuous improvement. Accordingly, this research focuses on identifying and prioritizing effective factors influencing the quality enhancement of educational sports complexes in Mahshahr city.
 
Methods
A mixed descriptive-exploratory research method was adopted, encompassing qualitative and quantitative phases. The qualitative phase involved sports managers, administrators and assistants of sports complexes, and physical education teachers in Mahshahr city, all with at least 15 years’ experience and postgraduate degrees. Sampling followed a theoretical saturation approach, yielding 12 purposefully selected participants.
The quantitative phase targeted all physical education teachers in Mahshahr city for the academic year 1402-1403. Due to the limited population size, a census sampling approach of 120 individuals was implemented, with 113 valid questionnaires returned and analyzed.
Data collection tools comprised semi-structured interviews and a researcher-designed questionnaire derived from qualitative findings via a Delphi panel. The questionnaire featured 28 items measuring factors affecting service quality development on a five-point Likert scale. Its validity and content were thoroughly evaluated, and reliability was confirmed with a high Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.95).
Qualitative data were analyzed with the Delphi method, while quantitative data involved descriptive statistics for organizing and classifying raw scores. Inferential analyses included the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to assess normality and exploratory factor analysis to identify and categorize influencing factors.
 Results
Exploratory factor analysis clustered effective factors into four primary categories based on conceptual similarity: income generation and capital attraction; management factors; facilities and equipment; and human resources. According to the Friedman test comparing mean scores, these factors were prioritized as follows: facilities and equipment ranked first, followed by income generation and capital attraction, management factors, and then human resources.
 The comparison of the average factors affecting the development of sports complex service quality using the Friedman test showed that facilities and equipment, income generation and capital attraction, management factors, and human resources were prioritized 1 to 4, respectively.
 Conclusion
Engagement in sports activities within schools and sports complexes is not only vital for raising a healthy and energetic generation but also constitutes the optimal avenue for institutionalizing sports culture among Iran’s future leaders.
Based on the research findings, it is recommended that physical education managers and complex administrators remove barriers and leverage effective factors to enhance the quality of sports complex services. Given the limited per capita student sports space, administrators could generate income by renting facilities to private sectors during non-educational hours and utilizing venues for classes, sports courses, coaching certifications, and refereeing workshops.
During the design and construction of sports complexes, attention must be paid to factors such as appropriate siting, proportional dimensions relative to student populations, proximity to schools, suitability of materials and construction aligned with regional climate conditions, as well as the selection and modernization of equipment and facilities.
Keywords: Service Quality, Development, Sports Complex, Department of Education.
 Article Message
Enhancing the quality of services in sports complexes under the education department represents a strategic imperative, not merely a logistical concern, for cultivating healthier, more engaged, and better-supported students. By systematically identifying and prioritizing developmental barriers, stakeholders can move beyond reactive measures toward sustainable improvements. The future of educational sports facilities depends on visionary leadership, inclusive planning, and a commitment to excellence. Transforming these complexes into dynamic hubs of growth, equity, and opportunity across communities is essential for student health and social participation.
 
Ethical Considerations
This study explored institutional, cultural, and managerial factors influencing service quality in education-affiliated sports complexes with ethical integrity at its core.

Approval and Oversight: Ethical approval was granted by Payame Noor University, in compliance with national and institutional guidelines for research involving public-sector organizations.
Informed Consent and Voluntary Participation: All participants were fully informed of the study’s objectives and procedures and provided written consent voluntarily without inducements or coercion.
Confidentiality and Anonymity: Participant and institutional identities were anonymized and data securely stored. Aggregate reporting avoided attribution of statements.
Respect for Institutional Sensitivities: Findings were presented constructively; feedback sessions were offered to ensure transparency and mutual understanding.
Avoidance of Bias and Conflict of Interest: Researchers disclosed all relevant affiliations and conducted data collection and analysis impartially with peer review safeguards.
Beneficence and Social Value: The research aimed to positively contribute to the advancement of equitable, accessible, and quality public sports services.

Authors’ Contributions

Conceptualization: First Author 50%, Second Author 50%
Data Collection: First Author 30%, Second Author 70%
Data Analysis: First Author 50%, Second Author 50%
Manuscript Writing: First Author 70%, Second Author 30%
Review and Editing: First Author 100%, Second Author 0%
Funding Responsibility: First Author 80%, Second Author 20%
Literature Review: First Author 50%, Second Author 50%
Project Management: First Author

Conflict of Interest
The authors declare full adherence to publication ethics, including the absence of plagiarism, data falsification, dual submissions, and any commercial conflicts of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
The authors sincerely thank all individuals who assisted with data collection and research execution. Special gratitude extends to the esteemed referees whose insightful feedback greatly improved this work. This article resulted from a master’s thesis. Thanks, are also due to the supervisor, sports managers of the Education Department, sports complex administrators, deputies, and physical education teachers of Mahshahr city who participated in this study.

Keywords

Service Quality, Development, Sports Complex, Department of Education

Subjects

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Research on Educational Sport
Volume 13, Issue 39
October 2025
Pages 17-38

  • Receive Date 05 November 2024
  • Revise Date 05 July 2025
  • Accept Date 19 August 2025

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