A1 Journal article (refereed)
Consistency tendency and the theory of planned behavior : a randomized controlled crossover trial in a physical activity context (2020)

Chan, D. K. C., Stenling, A., Yusainy, C., Hikmiah, Z., Ivarsson, A., Hagger, M. S., Rhodes, R. E., & Beauchamp, M. R. (2020). Consistency tendency and the theory of planned behavior : a randomized controlled crossover trial in a physical activity context. Psychology and Health, 35(6), 665-684. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2019.1677904

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Chan, Derwin K. C.; Stenling, Andreas; Yusainy, Cleoputri; Hikmiah, Ziadatul; Ivarsson, Andreas; Hagger, Martin S.; Rhodes, Ryan E.; Beauchamp, Mark R.

Journal or series: Psychology and Health

ISSN: 0887-0446

eISSN: 1476-8321

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 35

Issue number: 6

Pages range: 665-684

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2019.1677904

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/66114

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the effects of consistency tendency on the predictive power of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in relation to physical activity behavior. Methods: In this randomized controlled cross-over trial, we recruited 770 undergraduate students from Indonesia who were randomly assigned into two groups. Participants completed physical activity versions of TPB measures at T1 (baseline) and T2 (post 1 week), and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire at T3 (post 1 month). At T1 and T2, the TPB questions were either presented in ensemble-order (i.e., consistency tendency supressed) or alternate-order (i.e., consistency tendency facilitated). Results: The parameter estimates of the model (CFI > .92, TLI > .90, SRMR < .08, RMSEA < .08) aligned with the tenets of TPB. As compared to ensemble-order, a TPB measured in alternate-order yielded stronger cross-sectional relationships, but this pattern did not appear in the prospective relationships in TPB (i.e., intention/perceived behavioral control and behavior). Conclusions: Consistency tendency inflated the factor correlations of cross-sectionally measured TPB variables, but the inflation was not observed in the prospective prediction of behavior. Health psychology questionnaires with items presented in ensemble order may represent a viable means of reducing the confounding effect of consistency tendency.

Keywords: health behaviour; psychological theories; physical training; physical activity

Free keywords: consistency motif; Socratic effect; common method variance; general response tendency; proximity effect; response bias

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 2