Jiayao Qi

Dr. Qi's research centers on the data-driven exploration of human behavior and decision-making within the sports industry. His work integrates organizational behavior, psychological development, and AI advancement, employing a sophisticated suite of analytical tools. His research is primarily focused on two interconnected streams:

1. The Psychology of Passion & Careers: He investigates how passion defines sport job seekers, influences their application decisions, shapes career goals, and motivates actions. This research utilizes traditional methods alongside biometric tools such as Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and Electroencephalogram (EEG).
2. Sport Analytics & Business Intelligence: He charts the pathway from data science to actionable insights, using advanced analytics, including Sentiment Analysis, Topic Modeling, and other LLM/NLP techniques to study critical areas such as social media influence, sport betting markets, and the psychology of employees and consumers.

Through this blend of quantitative and qualitative analytics, Dr. Qi’s work provides a comprehensive, evidence-based lens on sport business analytics and organizational behaviors. He actively contributes to the academic community through roles such as editorial board member for the Journal of Applied Sport Management and the Sports Innovation Journal, and through participation in major conferences including the North American Society for Sport Management, the European Association for Sport Management, and the Sport Marketing Association.

Drawing from a strong foundation in finance and analytics, Dr. Qi is also passionate about teaching in areas such as sport finance, revenue generation, and data analytics.

Selected Publications

Todd, S. Y., Magnusen, M. J., Swanson, S., & Qi, J. C. (in press). How selective are sport job seekers? Investigating how application decisions are made in the sport industry. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing.

Qi, J. C., & Todd, S. Y. (2024). Passion in Sport: Looking Back to Move Ahead. Journal of Applied Sport Management.

Qi, J. C., & Todd, S. Y. (2023). Industry interactions and their influence on dreams, goals, work interests, and vocational attitudes of sport industry job seekers. Journal of Applied Sport Management, 15(1), 8-17.