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The role of goal-setting in a walking-for-health project in China

Last registered on June 30, 2020

View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title

The role of goal-setting in a walking-for-health project in China

RCT ID

AEARCTR-0006096

Initial registration date

June 30, 2020

Last updated

June 30, 2020 12:10 PM EDT

Location(s)

Country

China

Region

Primary Investigator

Name

Jingyi Meng

Affiliation

Nankai University

Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name

Wenbo Zou

PI Affiliation

Nankai University

Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status

In development

Start date

2020-07-01

End date

2020-12-31

Keywords

Health

Additional Keywords

goal setting, motivation, effort provision, exercise, health, field experiment, China

JEL code(s)

Secondary IDs

Abstract

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)

Registration Citation

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.

Sponsors & Partners

Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)

Intervention Start Date

2020-07-01

Intervention End Date

2020-12-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)

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

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

Experiment Characteristics

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