University of Twente Student Theses
Does the number of persuasive technology principles used in web-based interventions concerning mental health affect the effectiveness : a meta-analysis
Wildeboer, L. (2015) Does the number of persuasive technology principles used in web-based interventions concerning mental health affect the effectiveness : a meta-analysis.
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| Abstract: | Background: Research has shown that web-based interventions concerning mental health can be effective, although there is a broad range in effect sizes. Why some interventions are more effective than others is not clear. Persuasive technology is one of the aspects which has a positive influence on changing attitude and/or behavior, and can contribute to better outcomes. According to the Persuasive Design Model there are various principles that can be deployed. It is unknown whether the number of principles used in a web-based intervention affect the effectiveness. Another issue in web-based interventions is adherence. Little is known about the relationship of adherence on the effectiveness of web-based interventions. Objective: This study will examine whether there is a relationship between the number of persuasive technology principles used in web-based interventions and the effectiveness. Also the influence of the adherence rate on effectiveness of web-based interventions is investigated. Methods: A within-group (WG) and between-group (BG) meta-analysis were performed and subsequently a subgroup analysis regarding the relationship between the number of persuasive technology principles and effectiveness. The influence of adherence on the effectiveness was examined through a meta-regression analysis. Results: For the WG meta-analysis 40 treatment groups were included. The BG meta-analysis included 19 studies. The mean pooled effect size in the WG meta-analysis was large and significant (Hedges’ g = 0.94), while for the BG meta-analysis this was moderate to large and significant (Hedges’ g = 0.78) in favor of the web-based interventions. With regard to the number of persuasive technology principles the differences between the effect sizes in the subgroups were significant in the WG subgroup analysis for the total number of principles as well as the number of principles in the three categories Primary Task Support, Dialogue Support, and Social Support. In the BG subgroup analyses only the difference in the Primary Task Support was significant. An increase in the total number of principles and Dialogue Support principles yielded larger effect sizes in the WG subgroup analysis, indicating that more principles lead to better outcomes. The number of principles in the Primary Task Support (WG and BG) and Social Support (WG) did not show an upward trend but had varying effect sizes. The association between adherence and effectiveness was not significant. Conclusions: Despite several limitations in this study it can be concluded that the number of persuasive technology principles affects the effectiveness of web-based interventions concerning mental health. An increase in adherence rate does not seem to be associated with larger effect sizes. The findings of this study give direction to future research. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/67072 |
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