Experimental Research in the NHL

This week in class we talked about experimental research which is a type of quantitative research.  When conducting an experimental research procedure there are two groups.  One group is the experimental group and the other group is the control group.  Together they are both either asked the same questions or take part in the same experiment except with the experimental group there is normally one thing added to what they have to do or even read.  For example, in class we were given a survey that we answered about investor relations.  After we took that survey we received something that we had to read except we did not know that there were two different pages handed out.  One explanation of investor relations was longer than the other.  In the end the group that had the longer thing to read was the experimental group while the group with the shorter reading was the control group.  Normally the reason for doing this is to see if the same answers are produced through taking the survey again.

Experimental research is often done in the National Hockey League.  For some time now, the rules for hockey have been under research in order to keep the league going and for its survival.  I have written about this topic once before but found other articles about the experiment.  The article mentions how the NHL is probably the most research-friendly amongst all the professional team sports leagues in North America because it wants to make the game more exciting when it comes to the rules of the game.  At the Maple Leaf’s practice facility in August, some of the top junior players were asked to take part in the rule changing experiment.  The experiments consist of changing the amount of people on the ice to a two on two overtime, to a shallower net and lastly to having the second referee view the plays from an off-ice monitor.  The young boys were split up where they played the old way and then the new way.  The article says that instead of making iPad apps like the NFL and the MLB, the NHL is looking to change the game in order to keep the fans and to bring something new to the table.  Towards the end of the article, the Vice-President Brendan Shanahan listens to the scientists when they say that a “negative” outcome could be better than a “positive” outcome because the league will then be able to fix what needs to be fixed. 

As you can see, experimental research helped out the NHL not only with a potential rule change but it also brought the attention of fans to the league.  This was another thing that the researchers were hoping for.  The article also points out, that out of four professional leagues in North America, the NHL is the fourth and they would love to try to make at least a little higher in the rankings.