Graduation Year
2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.A.
Degree Granting Department
Child and Family Studies
Major Professor
Raymond Miltenberger
Committee Member
Kimberly Crosland
Committee Member
Lisa Witherspoon
Keywords
accelerometer, action plan, exercise, fitness, goal-setting, self-monitoring
Abstract
Researchers have successfully increased physical activity with self-monitoring, goal setting, and feedback. Goal attainment is a crucial part of what makes goal setting successful; however, it is often unreported in the literature or implied that goals were not reached consistently. A potential way to achieve this consistency is to create an action plan, or a detailed account of exactly how and when the individual will engage in the desired physical activity to reach his or her goal. This study evaluated whether making a detailed action plan would allow individuals to reach their physical activity goals more consistently than when using goal setting and self-monitoring alone. Action planning increased goal attainment for all participants but only resulted in increased physical activity for 2 of 3 participants. Future research should replicate this study to validate these findings and further explore methods for improving the success of goal setting as an intervention.
Scholar Commons Citation
Solley, Elizabeth Anne, "Improving Consistency of Goal Attainment to Increase Physical Activity" (2014). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/5314
