JuniperPublishers- An Exploratory Investigation of the Performance Effects of Competing on Home Versus Opponents’ Courts in Men’s and ’sWomen Intercollegiate Basketball Contests
Journal of Psychology - JuniperPublishers Abstract This study investigated the potential effects of home court advantage (HA) or disadvantage (HD) in recent (2013-2016) Division I men’s and women’s college basketball games. Performance statistics (points scored, points allowed, rebounds, free throw percentage, field goal percentage, fouls committed and winning percentage) were analyzed from two mid western (1 men & 1 women) and two southeastern (1 men & 1 women) Division I teams. Data were collected from each team’s regular season games (N = 329) over the course of a three-season period. Based on previous literature, it was anticipated a slight advantage would be found for teams playing at home versus playing at the opponents’ locations. Current findings showed an advantage for teams playing at home, though this advantage was not seen in all performance categories. All teams showed significant increases in points scored, field goal percentage, rebounds and winning per