title: A simple reinforcement strategy for increasing attendance at a fitness facility.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. kerry.courneya@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Courneya
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Estabrooks
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Nigg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology