This study explores the choice of goals that people make based on their intrinsic motivation and the effects of these goals on their effort provision. We conduct randomized-controlled experiments through a walking-for-health project which is initiated by the local government of a county in Southwest China.
External Link(s)
Citation
Meng, Jingyi and Wenbo Zou. 2020. "The role of goal-setting in a walking-for-health project in China." AEA RCT Registry. June 30. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.6096-1.0.
1) The number of days that an individual walks more than 8000 steps a day. 2) The average steps an individual walks daily.
3) The weight in kilograms and the BMI (Body Mass Index) at the end date as well as the changes in weight and BMI from the start date to the end date.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Secondary Outcomes (end points)
How many times the personal goal is met out of the 6 months. Whether the personal goal is met in each month.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
Experimental Design
We give instructions to subjects to help them set up a goal for the walking exercise.
Experimental Design Details
Subjects will be divided into 4 groups:
Control: no goal intervention;
Treatment 1: we ask the subject to set a goal for how many days in every month that they will be walking more than 8000 steps a day;
Treatment 2: we ask the subject to set a goal for how many days in every month that they will be walking more than 8000 steps a day, then we advise the subject to set a goal that is two days more than the original goal;
Treatment 3: we ask subject to set a goal for how many days in every month that they will be walking more than 8000 steps a day, then we advise the subject to set a goal that is two days less than the original goal.
Randomization Method
Randomization done by a mobile application.
Randomization Unit
individual
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes
Sample size: planned number of clusters
6 local organizations
Sample size: planned number of observations
320 adults
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
80 people control, 80 people treatment 1, 80 people treatment 2, 80 people treatment 3
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)