Perceived Effectiveness among College Students of Selected Statistical Measures in Motivating Exercise Behavior

Abstract

This study explored the effectiveness of selected statistical measures at motivating or maintaining regular exercise among college students. The study also considered whether ease in understanding these statistical measures was associated with perceived effectiveness at motivating or maintaining regular exercise. Analyses were based on a cross-sectional survey of 546 students. Students identified the total number of disease cases as the most effective measure for motivating behavior change, followed by the risk ratio of developing disease, percentage of disease cases, ratio lifetime risk of developing disease, percentage lifetime risk of developing disease, and then lethality. The ordering of these statistical measures in terms of ease in understanding was total number of disease cases, risk ratio, percentage of disease cases, ratio lifetime risk, lethality, and finally percentage lifetime risk. Students who identified total number of disease cases as the best statistical measure for motivating behavior change were also significantly more likely to identify that measure as the easiest, of those considered, to understand. Likewise, students tended to consider the statistical measure they perceived as being easiest to understand as the best measure for motivating behavior change.