Description

The Target Population Satisfaction Index (TPSI-15) is a brief psychometric instrument designed to evaluate the satisfaction of participants with sports and recreation programs. The questionnaire consists of 15 items and was originally developed by Weese (1997) as a unidimensional measure of program effectiveness.

The Greek adaptation of the instrument revealed a two-dimensional structure through factor analysis, consisting of two distinct factors: (a) benefits from participation and (b) program management. The TPSI-15 is characterized as a short, easily administered tool suitable for assessing satisfaction with organized sports and recreation programs.

Objective

The main objective of the TPSI-15 is to measure the effectiveness of sports programs by assessing the satisfaction of the target population with the services provided.

The questionnaire focuses on the overall quality of the program, including both the perceived benefits experienced by participants and the effectiveness of program organization and management.

Structure and Content

The TPSI-15 includes 15 items assessing two main dimensions:

Benefits from Participation, which evaluates the perceived advantages and outcomes participants gain through involvement in the program.

Program Management, which assesses aspects related to organization, administration, and delivery of the program services.

The two-factor structure was confirmed in the Greek version, supporting the distinction between participant outcomes and organizational effectiveness.

Scoring Method

Responses are rated on a five-point scale, where:

1 = Completely true

and

5 = Not at all true.

An additional response option (6) is available for “don’t know/no answer.”

Each item is evaluated individually, while mean scores can be calculated for each factor separately or as an overall average score representing general program effectiveness.

Data Analysis and Use

The TPSI-15 was adapted and evaluated in a sample of 312 higher education students from seven universities and seven technical institutes who participated in institutional sports programs.

The collected data can be used for internal evaluation of sports programs, comparisons between institutions, optimization of services, and evidence-based decision-making in recreational sports settings.

Statistical analysis may include descriptive statistics, factor analysis, reliability analysis, and comparisons of satisfaction levels between different participant groups.

Validity

Factor validity analysis of the Greek adaptation confirmed the existence of two dimensions: benefits from participation and program management.

These findings support the theoretical validity of the instrument and its suitability for evaluating satisfaction among participants in sports and recreation programs.

Reliability

The internal consistency of the TPSI-15 was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.

The reliability coefficient was:

α = 0.84 for the “benefits from participation” factor and
α = 0.77 for the “program management” factor.

These values indicate satisfactory to high internal consistency and reliability of the questionnaire subscales.

Applications

The TPSI-15 can be used in sports management research, recreational program evaluation, educational institutions, and organizations providing physical activity services.

It provides valuable information regarding participant satisfaction and can support the improvement of program quality, administration, and service delivery.

References

Mavrantzis, Th., Tsiggilis, N., & Koustelios, A. (2001). Effectiveness of sports programs in higher education. Proceedings of the 2nd Panhellenic Congress on Sports Organization and Management.

Weese, J. (1997). The development of an instrument to measure effectiveness in campus recreation programs. Journal of Sport Management, 11, 263–274.