Which of the following best summarizes the research focus in the field, as described?

• A. Underconformity of athletes
• B. Overconformity of athletes
• C. Balanced attention to under and overconformity
• D. None of the above

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that research in deviance in sport is described as focusing on underconformity—athletes not meeting the sport’s expected norms, rules, or standards. This line of inquiry looks at how and why athletes violate rules, cheat, or fail to live up to the ethical and behavioral expectations set by the sport, teams, and governing bodies, and what consequences or interventions arise from those violations. It frames deviance as departures from the normative codes of sport, rather than merely actions done to excess.

Overconformity—adhering to norms so rigidly that it causes harm or unnecessary risk—exists in the literature too, but the description here emphasizes underconformity as the central focus. A balanced view acknowledges both, yet the described research emphasis aligns with underconformity, making it the best fit.