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Examining the effect of session duration on step count in the Step it UP! Game
Ryan Redner1, Rebecca Seward2, Brooke Emmert1
1School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|August 5, 2026
Summary
The Step it UP! Game increased physical activity in young adults with disabilities. Varying game duration did not significantly impact step counts, though activity patterns changed.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral interventions
- Physical activity promotion
- Disability studies
Background:
- The Step it UP! Game, a modification of the Good Behavior Game, aims to boost physical activity.
- Previous implementations targeted elementary students and adults with disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of varying Step it UP! Game session durations on physical activity.
- To compare step counts during game sessions versus baseline conditions.
Main Methods:
- A multielement design was used with 15 young adults with disabilities.
- Six conditions were randomly alternated: 10, 20, and 40-minute baseline and game sessions.
- Participant steps were monitored across all conditions.
Main Results:
- Participants accumulated more steps during Step it UP! Game sessions compared to baseline.
- No significant differences in step counts were found across different game durations (10, 20, 40 minutes).
- Game duration influenced step-taking pauses and moderate-intensity physical activity duration.
Conclusions:
- The Step it UP! Game is effective in increasing physical activity among young adults with disabilities.
- While the game increases overall activity, session duration may not be a critical factor for step count.
- Further research could explore optimal duration for sustained engagement and activity intensity.
