The Effects of Peer-Directed Attention on the Physical Activity of Young Children

<p>Consistent high levels of physical activity are necessary for improved health in fitness in all individuals. Children are expected to engage in 60+ minutes a day of physical activity, but most do not meet this level (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Methods to increase physical activity in these populations via social consequences and environmental manipulations have demonstrated efficacy in the past (Larson, Normand, Morley, and Miller, 2013) though primarily in a one-on-one setting. As most children’s opportunities for physical activity occur in group settings (i.e., recess) this study evaluates a possible observational learning approach to increasing physical activity among small play groups of young children via contingent delivery of praise. This study will evaluate the effects of contingent delivery of praise to one child on the physical activity of the entire group. The information obtained may be useful for the development of more effective methods of increasing physical activity in recess settings. Results, their implications, and potential future directions of research are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Gauert, Spencer B.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Matthew Normand

• Psychology
• Contingent praise
• Group setting
• Observational learning
• Physical activity
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

Licence

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Identifier

9781339687667

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-1285