Physical ActivityNCT02710201
A Randomized-controlled Trial of Social Norm Interventions to Increase Physical Activity
A study testing Descriptive Social Norm and Descriptive-plus-Injunctive Social Norm in people with Physical Activity, run by University of California, Merced.
Trial summary
Objective: Physical activity confers numerous health benefits, yet few adults meet recommended physical activity guidelines. The impact of brief messages providing feedback on physical activity was tested in this study. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Physical Activity
- What is being tested?
- Descriptive Social Norm and Descriptive-plus-Injunctive Social Norm
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 111 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Feb 2013to Aug 2013
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 or older
Who cannot join
- Answering yes to any questions on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.
About this study
Objective: Physical activity confers numerous health benefits, yet few adults meet recommended physical activity guidelines. The impact of brief messages providing feedback on physical activity was tested in this study. Methods: Young adults were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) feedback on how active others were, (2) feedback on how active others were plus a message of approval or disapproval depending on whether the participant was more or less active than average, or (3) no feedback (control condition). Participants used pedometers for eight weekdays and recorded their step counts each evening. The group receiving feedback on how active others were got information about the average number of steps taken by group members the previous day. The group that also received approval or disapproval received feedback about the group average, as well as a sad face if the participant was below the average or a happy face if the participant was above the average. The control group received no feedback throughout the study. Impacts of these feedback messages were compared on number of steps taken during the study.
- Conditions
- Physical Activity
- Being tested
- Descriptive Social Norm, Descriptive-plus-Injunctive Social Norm
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Descriptive Social NormBehavioural
Descriptive-plus-Injunctive Social NormBehavioural
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | No feedback on progress of other participants. |
| Descriptive Social Norm | Experimental | Average physical activity of other participants in study conveyed to this group. Receives: Behavioral: Descriptive Social Norm |
| Descriptive-plus-Injunctive Social Norm | Experimental | Average physical activity of other participants in study and message of approval or disapproval (depending on how one is faring compared to others) conveyed to this group. Receives: Behavioral: Descriptive-plus-Injunctive Social Norm |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of steps
Number of steps taken daily, as measured by a pedometer.
Measured: Two weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Mar 2016 (estimated)
- Study startFeb 2013
- Primary completionAug 2013
- Study completionAug 2013
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Physical ActivityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 111 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Merced
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Linda Diane Cameron, University of California, Merced
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02710201
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UCM13-00012
- Status last verified
- Mar 2016
- First submitted
- 11 Mar 2016
- Last updated
- 17 Mar 2016
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Wally CM, Cameron LD. A Randomized-Controlled Trial of Social Norm Interventions to Increase Physical Activity. Ann Behav Med. 2017 Oct;51(5):642-651. doi: 10.1007/s12160-017-9887-z.
PubMed 28213634
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Mar 2016. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized-controlled Trial of Social Norm Interventions to Increase Physical Activity
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02710201
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UCM13-00012
- Conditions
- Physical Activity
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 111 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, MercedUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Feb 2013
- Primary completion
- Aug 2013 (actual)
- Study completion
- Aug 2013 (actual)
- First posted
- 16 Mar 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Objective: Physical activity confers numerous health benefits, yet few adults meet recommended physical activity guidelines. The impact of brief messages providing feedback on physical activity was tested in this study. Methods: Young adults were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) feedback on how active others were, (2) feedback on how active others were plus a message of approval or disapproval depending on whether the participant was more or less active than average, or (3) no feedback (control condition). Participants used pedometers for eight weekdays and recorded their step counts each evening. The group receiving feedback on how active others were got information about the average number of steps taken by group members the previous day. The group that also received approval or disapproval received feedback about the group average, as well as a sad face if the participant was below the average or a happy face if the participant was above the average. The control group received no feedback throughout the study. Impacts of these feedback messages were compared on number of steps taken during the study.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | –No feedback on progress of other participants. |
| Descriptive Social Norm | Experimental | Behavioral: Descriptive Social NormAverage physical activity of other participants in study conveyed to this group. |
| Descriptive-plus-Injunctive Social Norm | Experimental | Behavioral: Descriptive-plus-Injunctive Social NormAverage physical activity of other participants in study and message of approval or disapproval (depending on how one is faring compared to others) conveyed to this group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Age 18 or older
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Answering yes to any questions on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Descriptive Social Norm | Behavioural | Descriptive Social Norm |
| Descriptive-plus-Injunctive Social Norm | Behavioural | Descriptive-plus-Injunctive Social Norm |
Primary outcome
Number of steps
Time frame: Two weeks
Number of steps taken daily, as measured by a pedometer.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Mar 2016.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 28213634Wally CM, Cameron LD. A Randomized-Controlled Trial of Social Norm Interventions to Increase Physical Activity. Ann Behav Med. 2017 Oct;51(5):642-651. doi: 10.1007/s12160-017-9887-z.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Descriptive Social Norm and Descriptive-plus-Injunctive Social Norm in people with Physical Activity, run by University of California, Merced.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Mar 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of steps (time frame: Two weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02710201, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Mar 2016; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.