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Goals and Social Comparisons Promote Walking Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Gretchen B. Chapman
  • Helen Colby
  • Kimberly Convery
  • Elliot J. Coups

Abstract

The effectiveness of a pedometer intervention was affected by manipulating the goals given to participants and by providing social comparison feedback about how participants’ performance compared with others. In study 1 ( n = 148), university staff members received a low, medium, or high walking goal (10%, 50%, or 100% increase over baseline walking). Participants walked 1358 more steps per day (95% confidence interval [CI], 729, 1985), when receiving a high goal than when receiving a medium goal, but a medium goal did not increase walking relative to a low goal (554 more steps; 95% CI, –71,1179). In study 2 ( n = 64), participants received individual feedback only or individual plus social comparison feedback. Participants walked 1120 more steps per day (95% CI, 538, 1703) when receiving social comparison feedback than when receiving only individual feedback. Goals and the performance of others act as reference points and influence the effect that pedometer feedback has on walking behavior, illustrating the applicability of the principles of behavioral economics and social psychology to the design of health behavior interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Gretchen B. Chapman & Helen Colby & Kimberly Convery & Elliot J. Coups, 2016. "Goals and Social Comparisons Promote Walking Behavior," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 36(4), pages 472-478, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:medema:v:36:y:2016:i:4:p:472-478
    DOI: 10.1177/0272989X15592156
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Allcott, Hunt, 2011. "Social norms and energy conservation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(9-10), pages 1082-1095, October.
    2. Allcott, Hunt, 2011. "Social norms and energy conservation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(9), pages 1082-1095.
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    1. S S M Silva & Madawa W Jayawardana & Denny Meyer, 2018. "Statistical methods to model and evaluate physical activity programs, using step counts: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Yurina Otaki & Shuma Iwatani & Hidehito Honda & Kazuhiro Ueda, 2022. "Using nudges for water demand management: A field experiment for water conservation," PLOS Water, Public Library of Science, vol. 1(10), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Thole H. Hoppen & Rieke M. Cuno & Janna Nelson & Frederike Lemmel & Pascal Schlechter & Nexhmedin Morina, 2025. "Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials examining social comparison as a behaviour change technique across the behavioural sciences," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 9(8), pages 1595-1612, August.

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