Incentivizing Reflection and Output in Exercise

Healthy

exercise, Incentives, reflection, output

This study will test whether incentivizing post-workout activities (i.e., reflecting on workouts) is more effective than incentivizing actual workouts. This study has two conditions: reflection condition (with incentives for reflecting on workouts) vs. output (with incentives for working out). The focus of the incentives will be reinforced by three text messages per week and weekly emails.

Gym members register online to participate in a 28-day workout program. Upon registration, participants are assigned to one of two conditions (a condition that incentivizes reflecting on workouts or a condition that incentivizes workouts). Upon registration, participants are prompted to create a workout schedule and are given advice that reflecting on workouts can help build exercise habits. Over the 28-day intervention period, participants receive text message reminders prior to their scheduled workouts and emails reminding them of their schedules. In both conditions, participants receive points every day that they go to the gym, which can be redeemed for a gift card after the intervention period. In the reflection condition, participants can receive bonus points for responding to each of three text messages each week asking about them to reflect on their gym visits. In the output condition, participants receive the same text messages, but receive bonus points for their first three workouts each week, rather than for responding to text messages.

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United States