Exploring exercise motivation through human and virtual partnered exergames

This work explored the group process benefits of dyadic interaction and interdependence that may be harnessed in exergames (physical activity games) to achieve motivation to persist with physical activity. The K\uf6hler motivation gain effect is a conjunctive task paradigm in which the team outcome is dependent upon the least capable member\u2019s performance. This performance gain is thought to be the result of feeling indispensable to the group and making an upward comparison to one\u2019s moderately higher-ability partner. There is evidence that exercising in groups may be a popular modality for maintaining individual exercise. However, pairing people together to boost persistence with exercise is somewhat risky, as group dynamics may have a negative effect on motivation. The K\uf6hler paradigm offers a method of minimizing performance group losses (e.g., social loafing, free-riding). By instilling task interdependence and a moderate ability discrepancy, the weaker member is nonconsciously encouraged to increase performance above what she/he may have achieved individually. Exergames can provide a tailored exercise partner to operationalize the K\uf6hler group dynamics processes. Experiment 1 questioned whether or not partner weight characteristics moderate the K\uf6hler effect with adult obese participants. Community adults completed the first block of three isometric abdominal exercises alone and the second block either alone (Control), with a lighter weight (LW), or with a same weight partner (SW). Partners were actually confederates recorded earlier and presented as live, from another lab. Experiment 1 demonstrated that the K\uf6hler motivation effect increased persistence with abdominal isometric exercises in obese adults but this effect was not moderated by the relative weight of one\u2019s partner. Experiment 2 participants were exclusively partnered with a same-sex software-generated partner (SGP) to explore whether exercise participants would willingly team up with an SGP. Adults completed a series of abdominal plank exercises similar to Experiment 1. A simple interactive introductory exchange of spoken information via a dialogue tree was tested against a non-interactive method to potentially enhance perceptions of the SGP-human social relationship. SGP partnered participant persisted with exercise longer than non-partnered controls but the difference was not significant. Differences between introductory dialogue methods were also not significant but tended to favor the dialogue tree technique. Experiment 3 extended prior K\uf6hler motivation gain research to a field study for the first time using a mobile phone application. This experiment tested the use of SGPs on a walking task in free-living conditions over 3 weeks. Community adults were randomized to use an app without a SGP, with a SGP, or with a SGP and synchrony tone (a novel interpersonal synchronization feature). Experiment 3 successfully demonstrated implementation of a free-living SGP mobile application using the K\uf6hler paradigm. Results demonstrated a non-significant trend for mean minutes of walking per week, taken across all three weeks, such that participants in the synchronized conjunctive condition walked the most compared to no partner controls. These experiments support this specific motivation effect in adult, community-based samples. A discussion of the findings and limitations is included, as well as avenues of future research for partnered exercise.Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Kinesiology, 2016Includes bibliographical reference

Heart Rate Variability and Plank Exergaming with an Always-Superior Partner

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<i>P</i>-Curve Analysis of the Köhler Motivation Gain Effect in Exercise Settings: A Demonstration of a Novel Technique to Estimate Evidential Value Across Multiple Studies

Abstract Background Practitioners and researchers may not always be able to adequately evaluate the evidential value of findings from a series of independent studies. This is partially due to the possibility of inflated effect size estimates for these findings as a result of researcher manipulation or selective reporting of analyses (i.e., p-hacking). In light of the possible overestimation of effect sizes in the literature, the p-curve analysis has been proposed as a worthwhile tool that may help identify bias across a series of studies focused on a single effect. The p-curve analysis provides a measure of the evidential value in the published literature and might highlight p-hacking practices. Purpose Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to introduce the mechanics of the p-curve analysis to individuals researching phenomena in the psychosocial aspects of behavior and provide a substantive example of a p-curve analysis using findings from a series of studies examining a group dynamic motivation gain paradigm. Methods We performed a p-curve analysis on a sample of 13 studies that examined the Köhler motivation gain effect in exercise settings as a means to instruct readers how to conduct such an analysis on their own. Results The p-curve for studies examining the Köhler effect demonstrated evidential value and that this motivation effect is likely not a byproduct of p-hacking. The p-curve analysis is explained, as well as potential limitations of the analysis, interpretation of the results, and other uses where a p-curve analysis could be implemented. </jats:sec

Understanding Physical Activity Preferences and Motives in U.S. Adults

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 16, 2023. This study examined U.S. adult physical activity preferences and explored how a sample of Americans conceptualize these preferences, as previous attempts have primarily focused on non-U.S. or special populations. A sample of adults (n=402) was surveyed and stratified into \u27Alone\u27 or \u27Group\u27 physical activity preference conditions, with additional items exploring preference characteristics and social-psychological motives. Most adults preferred to exercise Alone (n=126), with a Partner (n=88), or with the use of a Virtual/Video environment (n=122) compared to those who preferred Group exercise (n=66). While there were no significant differences in physical activity levels, significant differences were noted between the groups for internal and external motives and psychological basic needs satisfaction. This study attempts to address a gap in the literature by providing descriptive physical activity preference data that may be helpful to researchers and practitioners as points of application who design interventions to initiate or maintain recommended levels of physical activity

The Relationship Between Barrier Self-Efficacy and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis

Previous reviews have highlighted the importance of self-efficacy beliefs in maintaining adequate levels of childhood physical activity (PA), but variable findings with different age groups and measures of PA indicate the need to quantify the extant literature. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to estimate the relationship between adolescents’ barrier self-efficacy (BSE) and PA behavior using a random-effects model and to examine age and type of PA measurement as potential relationship moderators. A systematic online database review yielded 38 articles up to June 2018. A small to moderate correlation between BSE beliefs and PA was noted, although the variability was considerable. Age and measurement timing were not significant moderators, but the type of measurement was a significant relationship moderator. This meta-analysis emphasizes the importance of BSE as a psychosocial correlate to PA behavior in young people. There is a need for further BSE–PA research with attention to measurement technique and developmental differences.</jats:p