A Simple Reinforcement Strategy for Increasing Attendance at a Fitness Facility

Courneya, Kerry S.; Estabrooks, Paul A.; Nigg, Claudio R. (1997). A Simple Reinforcement Strategy for Increasing Attendance at a Fitness Facility. Health education & behavior, 24(6), pp. 708-715. Sage 10.1177/109019819702400606

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The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of a previously untested reinforcement strategy (i.e., 1 month's free membership) on attendance at a fitness facility. Participants were paying members of a fitness facility randomly assigned to control (n = 100), placebo (n = 100), and reinforcement (n = 100) conditions. The control condition received no intervention; the placebo condition received a letter by mail; and the reinforcement condition received the same letter by mail, except that it included an additional paragraph instructing them that they could earn 1 month's free membership if they attended the fitness facility at least 12 times in the next month. Attendance was monitored for 1 month baseline and postintervention by using the facility's computer system. Analysis of variance, t tests, and chi-square analysis all revealed that the reinforcement condition had the best attendance record during the intervention period. These preliminary results shed some light on increasing attendance at a fitness facility. Discussion highlighted the practical implications of the findings and offered directions for future research.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Sport Science (ISPW)
UniBE Contributor:	Nigg, Claudio Renato
Subjects:	700 Arts > 790 Sports, games & entertainment
ISSN:	1090-1981
Publisher:	Sage
Language:	English
Submitter:	Marceline Brodmann
Date Deposited:	02 May 2024 09:00
Last Modified:	02 May 2024 09:00
Publisher DOI:	10.1177/109019819702400606
PubMed ID:	9408785
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/193423