Students help research motivational effect of virtual workout partners

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During the next two years, MSU researchers will use a $150,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to determine the motivational factor of a virtual workout partner.

Deborah Feltz, a kinesiology professor and Department of Kinesiology chairwoman, said researchers are looking at video games — even though they often have been associated with lack of physical activity — as a source of physical motivation. By pairing MSU students with virtual workout partners, the researchers hope to find whether motivation to workout increases.

“We also know that participating with another person can help improve motivation for physical activity,” Feltz said. “Sometimes that person isn’t always available, so we’re looking into a virtual partner or exercise buddy and trying to figure out what kind of buddy might be the most motivational to an individual.”

Researchers will observe the physical activity of about 450 MSU student volunteers using the Eye Toy tool for PlayStation 2, which allows participants to workout with a virtual partner. The researchers will try to determine what kind of virtual partner is most conducive to physical motivation.

“We’re trying to increase the length of participation and intensity,” Feltz said. “In one of our last experiments, we will be looking at frequency and adherence of participation. Those are all motivational outcomes.”

Psychology professor Norbert Kerr said although research already has began, it’s too soon to see any concrete results.

“We have begun data collecting and preliminary research, but it’s all very preliminary at this point,” said Kerr, a researcher for the project.

For accounting freshman Rene Yang, having someone to compete with is a good motivator. Yang said when she goes to the gym, she often has a friend go with her because it’s more fun and it becomes a fun competition.

“I think it’s better to have someone accompany because if there is someone there you can compare with,” Yang said. “When I run and I see I burned 100 calories and my friend (burned) 150 calories, I want to do more and catch up with her.”

Feltz said the results have the potential to lead to a larger project that could benefit everyone.

“Although we are using an existing game, I see possibility of being able to design our own game, and the possibility of lots of different applications that relate to healthy physical activity,” Feltz said.

Feltz said the overall goal is to promote more exercise by creating a game that everyone could use.

“We know that people sometimes do not participate in physical activity as long as they should or at all,” Kerr said. “Eventually, this can be applicable for those who are overweight, obese or in rehabilitation facility settings and need extra motivation.”

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