Abstract
Descriptive norms (DN; perception of what is commonly done) have been associated with activity (Crozier & Spink, 2017; Priebe & Spink, 2015), with most studies using focus theory of normative conduct (Cialdini et al., 1990) as their theoretical underpinning. One of its main postulates states that individuals are more likely to act on descriptive norm information when it is salient to them. The purpose was to examine the impact of descriptive norms on muscular endurance in a plank exercise where salience for the exercise behaviour differed (high exercise identity (HEXID)/low exercise identity (LEXID)). It was hypothesized that only HEXID individuals who received a descriptive norm would hold their plank longer than those who did not receive a message. Undergraduate students were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: descriptive norm (DN, n=31) and control (C, n=32), and then asked to perform two planks to maximum exertion separated by a 3-min rest. After completing the first, DN participants received a norm-specific message that "80% of university students held their second plank 20% longer than their first plank" while C participants received no message. Exercise identity also was assessed. A mean split of the exercise identity item was used to create the HEXID and LEXID groups. ANCOVA results (controlling for time 1 plank) revealed a significant condition/identity group interaction (p=.039). Supporting the hypothesis, significant differences between conditions only emerged for HEXID individuals with those receiving the message holding their second plank longer (M=98.5 sec) than those not receiving the message (M=80.4 sec).
