Maintaining Attendance at a Fitness Center: An Application of the Decision Balance Sheet

Abstract

The effect of a decision balance sheet intervention on attendance at a university fitness facility was examined. Facility members were randomly assigned to control, placebo, and experimental conditions. The control condition received no intervention, whereas the placebo and experimental conditions were called by telephone and asked to complete either an irrelevant (smoking) or relevant (exercising at the fitness facility) decision balance sheet. Attendance was monitored surreptitiously for 4 weeks baseline and 8 weeks post intervention. Statistical analyses indicated that the control and placebo conditions showed a significant decrease in attendance from baseline to intervention, whereas those in the experimental condition maintained attendance levels. Discussion focused on broadening the application of the decision balance sheet, determining its theoretical boundaries, and the necessity and appropriateness of decision alternatives for the decision balance sheet in the exercise domain.

Index Terms:

• decision balance sheet
• decision-making theory
• exercise adherence
• fitness center
• intervention

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Claudio R. Nigg

At the time this research was done, Mr Nigg, Dr Courneya, and Mr Estabrooks were with the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. Dr Courneya is now with the Faculty of Physical Education at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.