Methodological issues in piloting a physical activity diary with young people

WORMALD, Helen, SLEAP, Mike, BRUNTON, Julie, HAYES, Louise, WARBURTON, Peter, WARING, Mike and WHITE, Martin (2003). Methodological issues in piloting a physical activity diary with young people. Health education journal, 62 (3), 220-233.

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Official URL: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0017896903...
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1177/001789690306200304

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to explore methodological issues in piloting a recently developed physical activity diary for young people. Design Fifty-five participants aged 9-14 years completed the diary four times a day for seven consecutive days, recording the duration and intensity level of all activities in which they engaged. Setting Participants were randomly selected from two primary and two secondary schools in Hull and East Yorkshire. Method Following diary completion, focus group discussions were conducted to ascertain participants' perceptions of the diary. In addition, analysis of diary entries was carried out to investigate the quality of data collected. Results Administration of the diary was a relatively quick and easy process, although meetings with teachers and pupils were occasionally problematic and required thorough organisation as well as constant verbal and written reminders. Meetings with participants were held during break times and were not intrusive to the school timetable. Ninety- one per cent of the diaries were returned, eleven per cent of which were invalid. The quality of data derived from the diaries was very good and extremely detailed. Participants reported that completion of the diary had been relatively straightforward, although it was inconvenient to carry around and difficult to remember to fill in. Conclusion It was concluded that the diary had the potential to assess young people's physical activity habits, and that participants were willing to commit time and effort to complete the diary. The accuracy of data is reliant upon effective strategies for instructing young people how to complete the diary, and might be improved with parental and teacher support.

Item Type: Article
Departments - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Health and Well-being > Department of Sport
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1177/001789690306200304
Page Range: 220-233
Depositing User: Beatrice Turpin
Date Deposited: 24 Aug 2018 09:13
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 11:00
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/22244

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