Friends or Funds: Comparing Accountability Partners and Deposit Contracts for Increasing Step Counts

This retrospective cohort study analized the effectiveness of financial versus social incentives for increasing average daily step counts. Data involving 7,675 WayBetter app users participating in two-week challenges were examined. Participants selected either a financial incentive by paying $10 in a deposit contract or a social incentive by inviting an accountability partner. Step counts were tracked by gyroscopic sensors or fitness wearables (e.g., FitBit). The users were instructed to achieve step count goals to win the game. Our analysis compared which of the two conditions (independent variable) was more effective in increasing step counts (dependent variable) and success outcomes (dependent variable). In IBM SPSS 27, a paired samples t-test showed that the overall daily step count increased significantly during the challenge compared to the average recorded before the challenge (baseline). Furthermore, an independent samples t-test showed significant differences between the...Show moreThis retrospective cohort study analized the effectiveness of financial versus social incentives for increasing average daily step counts. Data involving 7,675 WayBetter app users participating in two-week challenges were examined. Participants selected either a financial incentive by paying $10 in a deposit contract or a social incentive by inviting an accountability partner. Step counts were tracked by gyroscopic sensors or fitness wearables (e.g., FitBit). The users were instructed to achieve step count goals to win the game. Our analysis compared which of the two conditions (independent variable) was more effective in increasing step counts (dependent variable) and success outcomes (dependent variable). In IBM SPSS 27, a paired samples t-test showed that the overall daily step count increased significantly during the challenge compared to the average recorded before the challenge (baseline). Furthermore, an independent samples t-test showed significant differences between the two groups, where deposit contracts showed significant step count increases of 8%, while accountability partners showed significant step count decreases of -16%. A cross-tab for an independent chi-square test revealed significant differences in success outcomes between the two groups, with a success rate of 70% in the deposit contract group and only 13% in the accountability partner group. Exploratory analysis showed that winners increased their steps by 16%, while losers decreased them by 13%. These correlational findings highlight the importance of careful implementation of incentives in digital health interventions. Further research on improved success rates and variations of desing of the accountability partner condition must be explored.Show less

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Friends or Funds: Comparing Accountability Partners and Deposit Contracts for Increasing Step Counts