Understanding Quantified-Selfers' Interplay between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in the Use of Activity-Tracking Devices

Abstract

Interest in consumer tracking devices that measure movement to help consumers track and understand their daily activities has rapidly increased in recent years. Although a few studies have focused on the use of fitness tracking devices, we know little about how users’ existing motivation is complemented by motivation externally created from the device or how interplay between this external motivation and preexisting internal motivation of users affects use of the device over an extended period of time. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 Fitbit users in an academic institution to understand the multidimensional nature of motivation that shapes the long-term use of technology and its effects, and we found that Quantified-Selfers may have distinct motivation to use tracking devices. In the next step, we plan to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the Quantified Self online forum in order to explore Quantified-Selfers’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for using the device and tracking their activity data.