Evaluating public posting, goal setting, and rewards to increase physical activity in children

Miller et al. (2023) tested a four-part package in an elementary classroom. Kids wore pedometers and tracked their own steps. They posted daily totals on a wall, set step goals, and earned small prizes for meeting them.

The study used a single-case design. Researchers measured step counts across days to see if the package boosted movement.

The full bundle worked best. When self-monitoring, public posting, goal setting, and rewards ran together, step counts rose the most.

No single part matched the power of the full package. The combo kept kids moving at recess and PE.

Agiovlasitis et al. (2025) tried a similar pedometer package with pre-service teachers. Steps rose only a little, but student chats went up. The weaker step gain may come from adults’ already-low baseline movement.

Fournier et al. (2024) ran a near-copy study with adults, swapping toys for money. Again, the multicomponent bundle hit federal exercise targets. Together, these studies show the same recipe works across ages when you keep the parts intact.

Old classics back this up. Mellitz et al. (1983) first showed public posting can double teacher praise. Hursh et al. (1974) used public feedback to double kids’ writing speed. Miller’s team simply shifts the target from academics and praise to physical activity.

You can copy the whole package tomorrow. Hand out cheap pedometers, let kids log steps on a wall chart, set a class goal, and hand out stickers or extra recess when they hit it. No extra staff or tech needed. Expect bigger gains than using any single trick alone.