The Influence of Financial Incentives and Goal Setting on Physical Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Last registered on July 19, 2023
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The Influence of Financial Incentives and Goal Setting on Physical Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0011790
Initial registration date
July 17, 2023

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
July 19, 2023, 2:37 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
Germany
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Cheyenne Wübbelmann
Affiliation
Universität Vechta
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Maximilian Hiller
PI Affiliation
University of Vechta
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Vanessa Mertins
PI Affiliation
University of Vechta
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Devin Kwasniok
PI Affiliation
University of Vechta
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2023-07-17
End date
2023-07-19
Keywords
Behavior, Health
Additional Keywords
Commitment device, physical activity, monetary incentives, goal-setting, reward
JEL code(s)
C93, D91, I12
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This randomized controlled trial examines the impact of financial incentives on promoting physical activity and emphasizes the significance of goal definition within this context. Previous studies have consistently demonstrated the positive effects of financial incentives in enhancing physical activity. However, it is not only the magnitude of the financial reward that influences behavior change, but also the clarity and specificity of the goal itself. Goal Setting Theory posits that clearly defined goals are crucial for achieving optimal outcomes. Surprisingly, existing literature primarily compares a control group which is given the same goal as the treatment groups with a precisely defined goal, often overlooking an intermediate "Give your best" group. Furthermore, most studies only focus on one goal level. There are different assumptions regarding high goal levels. Some researchers posit that higher goals lead to higher outcomes because of the motivational effects, whereas others argue that high goals lead to not trying at all. Consequently, it becomes crucial to compare different goal levels in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of their impact. By addressing this research gap, we aim to enhance the understanding of how goal definition, in conjunction with financial incentives, can effectively promote physical activity engagement and contribute to the development of more effective intervention strategies.

We have developed a between-subject randomized controlled trial to test the effects of low and high goals on goal achievement, defined as steps per day. Approximately 500 participants between the ages of 18 and 85 will be randomly assigned to one of two experimental treatments or the control treatment. Participants will receive information about the intervention one day before the experiment starts. The intervention lasts one day, so that participants can give their all on that specific day.

We run the experiment within an ongoing 365-day long study with subjects who are all seeking to improve their physical activity. All participants have been positively health screened, are using a smartphone app (ActiVAtE Behavior) to transmit their steps (main performance measure) in a timely manner and have already provided extensive individual data at the time of the intervention.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Hiller, Maximilian et al. 2023. "The Influence of Financial Incentives and Goal Setting on Physical Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial." AEA RCT Registry. July 19. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.11790-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
T0: Control
T1: Low Goal
T2: High Goal

In T0, no goal is present. Participants are told that they should take as many steps as possible the following day. To receive a bonus of X€, they are asked to send a screenshot of their taken steps. Therefore, in the control group, the reward depends on submitting a screenshot.
In T1, we offer participants a low goal of 5,000 steps per day, combined with a standard reward. Participants who reach the step goal of 5,000 steps the following day, as substantiated by a screenshot, are rewarded with a bonus of X€. In other words, the reward in T1 depends on goal achievement and submitting a screenshot. T2 runs concurrently with T1, with the expectation that participants in T2 are challenged with a high goal of 10,000 steps the following day.
Intervention Start Date
2023-07-18
Intervention End Date
2023-07-19

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
goal achievement (number of successful participants), steps per day, degree of target achievement
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
average costs per treatment, take-up rate
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We conduct a randomized controlled trial to test the effects of different goal levels in combination with a gain framed monetary incentive on physical activity and goal achievement. Therefore, we define physical activity as the number of steps per day, which we measure via a smartphone app. The goals are divided into a high and low number of steps per day. Incentive phase will be one day to test a one-shot group performance. Participants are randomized to one of the following five treatment groups:

T0: Control
T1: Low Goal
T2: High Goal

In T0, no goal is present. Participants are told that they should take as many steps as possible the following day. To receive a bonus of X€, they are asked to send a screenshot of their taken steps. Therefore, in the control group, the reward depends on submitting a screenshot.
In T1, we offer participants a low goal of 5,000 steps per day, combined with a standard reward. Participants who reach the step goal of 5,000 steps the following day, as substantiated by a screenshot, are rewarded with a bonus of X€. In other words, the reward in T1 depends on goal achievement and submitting a screenshot. T2 runs concurrently with T1, with the expectation that participants in T2 are challenged with a high goal of 10,000 steps the following day.

Prior to intervention day, participants will receive a message via WhatsApp, which introduces them the challenge for the next day.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Random draw by computer
Randomization Unit
Randomization will be at the individual level
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
522
Sample size: planned number of observations
522
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
174
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Gesellschaft für experimentelle Wirtschaftsforschung e.V.
IRB Approval Date
2023-07-17
IRB Approval Number
VUdJV9wf
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials