Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Adults continue to get inadequate amounts of physical activity (Flegal et al., 2010; WCRF/AICR, 2009). Pedometer programs being implemented have effectively motivated the participants to increase their physical activity outputs; however, researchers have been unable to determine the features responsible for the physical activity increases. Procedures: Participants were given pedometers to measure their physical activity outputs. The participants collected baseline data for one week. The experimental group was administered three competitive incentive interventions. Their data was compared to their baseline step data and step data collected from a control group. The data analysis was done using both the Microsoft Excel and SPSS programs, where dependent and independent t-test were used to determine if any significance existed. Conclusions: The hypotheses were answered based on the following research questions: 1. Can the competitive incentive features of an online pedometer program have a significant effect on the participants regarding the amount of steps they take when cash and/or prize incentives are not offered? 2. Do the different types of competition (small groups of equal ability, intergroup, or large group of varying ability) vary in the effect they have on participants regarding the amount of steps they take? 3. Will the competitive incentive features of an online pedometer program have a significant effect on the participants (experimental) when they are compared to a control group and also to their own baseline data? Among the 40 participants, t-test analyses found significant relationships between the physical activity outputs (steps) of the experimental group when compared to their own baseline data and to the control group's step data. Significant increases in steps counts were seen for all three weeks of competitive incentive within the experimental group. No significant differences were found between the types of competition administered or between the groups when small ability groups were used as a competitive incentive.
Advisor
Marge Murray-Davis
Committee Member
Autumn Hamilton
Committee Member
Sherry Folsom-Meek
Date of Degree
2012
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Health Science
College
Allied Health and Nursing
Recommended Citation
Engelking, B. (2012). Effective Pedometer Programs: Determining the Motivational Factors Primarily Responsible for the Physical Activity Increases being made by Participants [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/226/
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