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Authors Chia-Yun Lin & Wen-Jhan Jane Pages 131–159 Keywords Social facilitation, Attendance, Home advantage, Referee bias, Covid-19 |
How to Cite Lin, C.-Y., & Jane, W.-J. (2025). The Inquiry of social facilitation, home advantage and referee bias. Management Review, 44(2), 131–159. https://doi.org/10.6656/MR.202504_44(2).ENG002
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Abstract
Purpose – This study analyses how social environment affects team performance and Referee bias.
Design/methodology/approach – We use the game-level data from Liga de primera división and exploit the COVID-19 outbreak as a natural experiment.
Findings – We find that the number of spectators has a positive and significant impact on home team performance, and the results are consistent with the social facilitation hypothesis. Home teams, however, have earned fewer points, suggesting that the no fans policy reduces home court advantage. In addition, in the games played without audience, referee bias decreases and home teams’ fouls increase.
Research limitations/implications – Supporting spectators can have different effects on players in these teams. Future research needs to focus on analyzing the impact of spectators on individual player performance.
Practical implications/Social implications – Understanding how crowds influence individual or team performance and decision-making.
Originality/value – The estimations of attendance on team performance, home field advantage, and referee bias provide the understandings that the effects of social environments in individual or team performance and decision-making.