Abstract

Objectives: Evidence suggests that different goal types produce different types of experience in physical activity. Understanding the types of interventions most effective in enhancing the experience of exercise and eliciting affective responses for physical activity promotion is of paramount importance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of specific, open, and do-your-best goals on cognitive and affective responses in a walking task in active and inactive adults.
Design: The study employed a 4 x 4 x 2 mixed design, combining repeated measures (condition/attempt) and between-group (active/inactive) variables.
Methods: Participants (n = 36) completed three attempts of the 6-minute Walk Test in each of four conditions: specific goal; open goal; do-your-best goal; and control (i.e., no goal). Perceived exertion, affect, arousal, and heart rate were assessed at 2-minute intervals during each attempt. Following each attempt, participants rated perceptions of: confidence; performance; and challenge. A questionnaire assessing enjoyment and four single items related to post-exercise perceptions were taken after each session.
Results: Significant differences (p < .05) were found in at least one goal condition, and in at least one attempt, for perceived exertion, affect, arousal, heart rate, perceived confidence, performance, and challenge, enjoyment and post-exercise perceptions between active and inactive participants.
Conclusions: Findings support the efficacy of open goals and suggest different cognitive and affective responses are elicited from different types of goals, and may offer potential methods for enhancing the experience of physical activity in different population groups for the purposes of physical activity promotion.