Pedometers as Measurement Tools and Motivational Devices: New Insights for Researchers and Practitioners

Abstract

Pedometers are increasingly used in physical activity research and health promotion initiatives. This pilot study examines the efficacy of pedometers as motivational tools for increasing daily physical activity and exploring the practical issues related to pedometer use in research and intervention studies. A mixed-method design is used to collect data on the level of activity and in-depth information about participants' experiences wearing the pedometers. Participants are 10 midlife women between the ages of 45 and 64 (mean age = 52.9). Analysis indicates pedometers function as important motivational tools for increasing daily physical activity and improving the awareness of activity patterns for participants. Findings provide new insights into participants' experiences using the pedometers and understanding how these devices function as research tools. Several important methodological considerations for future research and intervention designs using pedometers are discussed.

Fair Play Game: a group contingency strategy to increase students' active behaviours in physical education

“…Since Fair Play Game is an intervention package, it is difficult to attribute the increase in number of steps to one component of the strategy. For example, pedometers per se can be seen as motivators to increase active behaviours (Basett, 2000;Gardner & Campagna, 2011). However, the results of this study showed that although students were wearing pedometers before and after intervention, a significant increase in number of steps occurred after Fair Play Game was implemented in all three classes.…”

Theoretical models for pedometer use in physical activity interventions

“…consciousness-raising). 40 Baker and colleagues conducted a TTM pedometer study, 39 and randomly assigned 71 participants to: (1) a TTM pedometer intervention; (2) a TTM minutesof-activity goal-setting intervention; or (3) a control group. At week 4, the TTM pedometer group was the only group to significantly increase daily step counts (increased by 20 186 steps/week; P,0.001).…”

The effect of non-exercise activity thermogenesis on subjects with metabolic syndrome – a proof of concept study in Qatar

“…Furthermore, specific goals to be attained in regard to frequency and duration of activity should be promoted. Another suggestion would be to use pedometers or other physical activity sensors as an incentive to increase NEAT as Gardner and Campagna show that such devices help increase motivation and aid in raising awareness to different activity patterns 12 . Also, self-report was used as a reporting method, where subjects may tend to over report, or simply forget.…”