Oregon State University

Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences

EXSS 435: Physical Activity Promotion

Credit Hours: 3 credits (3 hrs of lecture)

Meeting Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Instructor: Stewart Trost Office: Womens Building 203D
Office Hours: TBD
Please feel free to set up an appointment if you cant make this time.
Phone: 737-5931 e-mail: stewart.trost@oregonstate.edu
Blackboard Course Information:
Students must have an ONID account in order to access the course at the
Blackboard site. To get an ONID account, go to http://www.onid.orst.edu
Once you have logged into Blackboard, access this class. If you cannot access
the course, you are not correctly registered for this class.
You will need access to Blackboard to see your grades.

Course Catalog Description:

Application of behavioral science and public health research to the promotion of physical activity in
individuals, groups and communities.

Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and resources that will
enable them to effectively promote participation in physical activity in individuals, groups, and
communities. Theories and concepts from behavioral science research will be examined and applied to
the real world task of promoting physical activity.
Resources

Marcus, B.H., & Forsyth, L.H. (2003). Motivating People to Be Physically Active. Champaign, IL:
Human Kinetics Required Text.

Prerequisites: EXSS 370

Learning Outcomes/Competencies

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

Summarize the evidence linking physical activity to specific health outcomes.
List the strengths and weaknesses of different measures of physical activity.
Select a measure of physical activity that meets ones needs and resources.
Summarize the psychosocial and environmental factors that influence physical activity
Devise a strategy to target an established influence on physical activity behavior
Use the stage-based approach to design and implement a program to increase physical
activity.
Critically evaluate and apply research on physical activity promotion
Evaluation of Student Performance

Grading/Assignments
Physical Activity Promotion Assignment: 30%
Group Presentation: 20%
Midterm Exam: 20%
Final Exam: 30%

Final Grades:
A total of 100 points is possible for the course

94-100% = A 70-73% = C-
90-93% = A- 67-69% = D+
87-89% = B+ 64-66% = D
84-86% = B 60-63% = D-
80-83% = B- Below 60% = F
77-79% = C+
74-76% = C

Philosophy on Attendance and Class Behavior:

You will not be graded on attendance in this class

Students are expected to be in class on time.
Food and drink are not permitted in the classroom.
Reading the newspaper or studying during class is not permitted.
Classroom discussion is highly valued and strongly encouraged.

Services to Students with Disabilities

"Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Services for Students with
Disabilities (SSD). Students with accommodations approved through SSD are responsible for
contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to
discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not
yet obtained approval through SSD should contact SSD immediately at 737-4098."

Academic Dishonesty:
Oregon State University provides clear definition and sanctions for academic dishonesty. As a
result, academic dishonesty of any kind is not tolerated. Students caught cheating, plagiarizing, or
participating in any form of academic dishonesty will receive an F on the assignment or test (and
possibly an F in the course). A formal report to the chair of the Department, to the Dean, and to the
Student Conduct Program will be made.
If you have any questions about the extent and severity of sanctions that may result from dishonest behavior, I
suggest that you take time to read the OSU Student Handbook or access the OSU Student Conduct Website at:
http://www.orst.edu/admin/stucon/achon.htm
 Course Schedule

Proposed Lecture and Exam Schedule

Week Topic

1 Physical Activity and Health

Key concepts and definitions
Behavioral Epidemiological Framework

2 Assessment of Physical Activity and Motivational State of Readiness

3 Integrating other theories and models

4 Learning about mediators

Intervention mapping - Mid Term Exam

5 Using the state model in individual counseling

Motivational Interviewing

6 Successful interventions using the Stage Model

7 Using the Stage Model in group exercise programs

8 Research on physical activity promotion Group Presentations

9 Physical activity promotion in children and adolescents

10 Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Communities and

Populations

Final Exam
 Oregon State University Department of Kinesiology
EXSS 435: Physical Activity Promotion
X Term 20XX
Dr. Stewart Trost

Outline of Physical Activity Promotion Assignment

In this assignment you will use the Stage of Change Model to promote physical activity in a
currently sedentary or low-active individual. Working with this individual, you will apply the
concepts covered in class to promote progression to a higher stage of change and greater
participation in physical activity. Your work over the course of the semester will be documented in
Physical Activity Promotion Portfolio (3-ring binder). The collection of measurement tools,
promotion strategies, and writing assignments archived in the Physical Activity Promotion Portfolio
will serve as a useful resource for your work in the future.

Note that we will cover the assignment in detail in class on <insert date>. This is just a brief
overview.

The Physical Activity Promotion Portfolio will consist of 3 sections. Each section will include a
number of short answer questions or brief writing tasks. All three sections must be completed to
receive a final grade for the assignment.

Part 1 - Due <End of Week 3> (10%)

Assessment of Physical Activity Stage of Readiness (N=5)

Assessment of Physical Activity Self Report (N=5)
Physical Activity History Questionnaire (Questionnaire 2.2 in the text)
Individual Physical Activity Profile
Baseline Pedometer Step Log

Part 2 - Due <End of Week 6> (10%)

Baseline Physical Activity Self-Efficacy (Questionnaire 5.2)

Baseline Social Support (Questionnaire 5.4)
Record of Past Successes
Record of Benefits of Physical Activity
Record of Physical Activity Barriers
IDEA Problem Solving Form
Goal Setting Form

Part 3 - Due <End of Week 10> (10%)

Assessment and Revision of Physical Activity Goals

Pedometer Log
Post Physical Activity Self-Efficacy (Questionnaire 5.2)
Post Social Support (Questionnaire 5.4)
Evaluation of Progress
Recommendations for Future
 EXSS 435 Physical Activity Promotion
Group Assignment

For this assignment your group will overview and critique the aims, methodology and results of a
published intervention study that used the Stages of Change model to promote physical activity.
Your group has been assigned a paper which you should have downloaded from K-State Online.

After reading through the paper carefully, your group will need to abstract the following
information

1. Name of the intervention study and principle investigator (first author)

2. Stated purpose of the study (sometimes stated as specific aims).

3. Nature of the sample completing the study and how recruited

4. Study Design

5. Experiment Intervention (what strategies did they use eg, stage specific manuals)

6. Control Condition

7. Follow-up period (how long did the intervention last, did they do more than 1 follow-up
assessment to examine maintenance of behavior change?)

8. Results (be quantitative - % stage progression or regression, mins of activity etc)

9. Conclusion (Was it effective and did it support the utility of the stage-matched approach)

10. Study Strengths and Limitations

11. How can the findings be applied to physical activity and other health professionals?

On Friday, November 11th your group will make a PowerPoint presentation addressing the points
list above.