ÜBERMAD

Rule · how

Get feedback on your progress

Feedback from a person, app or device on progress.

A woman in a checked jacket walks in place on a stone slab, looking down at a large compass held in both hands.

Studies (16)

  1. Paper

    Home reminder stickers and app quizzes built stronger self-care habits in adults with diabetes
    TestedHelped

    With home reminders and app quizzes, self-care felt more automatic after 12 weeks than with plain app lessons.

    Randomised trial of 293 adults with type 2 diabetes in China · vs plain app lessons on diabetes · they rated themselves

    TestedHelped

    With home reminders and app quizzes, people did their self-care on more days than with plain app lessons.

    Randomised trial of 293 adults with type 2 diabetes in China · vs plain app lessons on diabetes · they rated themselves

  2. Paper

    Exercise logs and video feedback in a sports course got students to exercise more
    TestedHelped

    Students who logged their exercise and got feedback on their videos said they exercised more than the usual class.

    Randomised trial of 308 university students in China · vs the same sports course taught the usual way · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole groups were assigned, not people; numbers unreliable

  3. Paper

    A form-checking exercise app got people with high blood pressure moving more
    TestedHelped

    People who got live feedback on form, reminders and weekly calls said they exercised more than the other group.

    Small randomised trial of 62 inactive adults with high blood pressure · vs the same exercise plan without feedback or calls · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable; summary claims more than the results show

  4. Paper

    Pay tied to a partner's work got online workers to do more, and sooner
    TestedNo difference

    Showing partners' work did not change day-one work, but no one saw a partner's work until day two.

    Randomised trial of 597 online workers in the US · vs the same team pay without seeing the partner's work · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

  5. Paper

    An AI study tool for one semester helped students put things off less
    TestedHelped

    Students who used an AI study tool with feedback 2 hours a week put things off less than usual study.

    Randomised trial of 182 science and maths students in Pakistan · vs usual study with the same weekly schedules · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

  6. Paper

    An app that picked exercise for each person didn't get people more active
    TestedNo difference

    An app that picked short home exercise for each person did not get people more active than a plain log.

    Randomised trial of 112 adults who rarely exercised, in France · vs the same app, writing down activity yourself · they rated themselves · ⚠ not yet checked by other scientists; many people dropped out; only counted people who finished; numbers unreliable

  7. Paper

    Weekly point goals and a leaderboard got drivers to hold their phones less
    TestedHelped

    With weekly point goals and a leaderboard, drivers held their phones a fifth less than with risk lessons alone.

    Large randomised trial of 1,653 US drivers who often held phones while driving · vs drivers who only got lessons on the risks · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ numbers unreliable

  8. Paper

    Typing blood pressure into a text got it sent more often than an app
    UsedNo comparison

    Daily steps roughly doubled during the programme and stayed up for 12 weeks, with no other group to compare.

    Small randomised trial of 47 adults with kidney disease and high blood pressure · no comparison group · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ no untreated control group; pre-post step counts only

  9. Paper

    Seeing your rank in a small league cut last-minute study, mostly for weaker students
    UsedMixed

    Against goals alone, seeing their league rank meant students put off logins less, mostly weak ones; top students didn't change.

    Randomised trial of 890 first-year economics students in Australia · vs students who saw goals but no ranking · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

    TestedNo difference

    Seeing goals for the next league, with no ranks, worked no better than seeing points alone.

    Randomised trial of 890 first-year economics students in Australia · vs students who saw only their points · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

  10. Paper

    A glucose monitor didn't clearly help people keep to an 8-hour eating window
    UsedNo comparison

    Sensor users kept to the 8-hour eating window on slightly more days than others, but this was never tested.

    Very small randomised trial of 22 healthy adults in New Zealand · no comparison group · they rated themselves · ⚠ student thesis, not checked by other scientists; only counted people who finished; numbers unreliable; summary claims more than the results show; groups weren't properly compared

  11. Paper

    Automatic daily feedback on study goals cut putting things off a little
    TestedHelped

    Students who got daily feedback on their goals and planning tips put things off a bit less than diary-only students.

    Randomised trial of 244 university students in Germany studying for exams · vs the same daily diary without feedback · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

    TestedHelped

    On days after feedback on goal progress, students put things off slightly less, with or without strategy tips.

    Randomised trial of 244 university students in Germany studying for exams · vs days without feedback · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

  12. Paper

    Sleep coaching by phone did not clearly steady bed and wake times
    TestedNo difference

    Weekly sleep lessons, coach-set sleep goals and tracker feedback did not steady bed and wake times more than health emails.

    Very small randomised trial of 14 adults with type 1 diabetes and poor sleep · vs weekly health emails and short calls without sleep advice · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show; groups weren't properly compared

  13. Paper

    A coached sit-less plan weakened older adults' sitting habit a bit more
    TestedHelped

    Coaching, a buzzing wristband and sitting charts weakened the sitting habit a bit more than a health workbook did.

    Small randomised trial of 60 older adults with obesity who sit a lot · vs a health workbook, one coach session and mailings · they rated themselves · ⚠ only counted people who finished; many people dropped out; many outcomes tested without correction

  14. Paper

    A 20-minute online sleep lesson got more students to keep a regular sleep schedule
    TestedHelped

    Eight weeks after one short online sleep lesson, more students said they kept a more regular sleep schedule.

    Randomised trial of 549 college students in the USA · vs students who only filled in surveys · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

  15. Paper

    Web plans built exercise and diet habits briefly, but not by three months
    TestedMixed

    Plans for when, where and how to move built a stronger habit at 8 weeks, but not at 3 months.

    Randomised trial of 790 adults in Germany and the Netherlands · vs people who were waiting for the programme · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out; numbers unreliable; summary claims more than the results show

    TestedMixed

    The same web plans built a stronger fruit and vegetable habit at 8 weeks, but not at 3 months.

    Randomised trial of 790 adults in Germany and the Netherlands · vs people who were waiting for the programme · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out; numbers unreliable; summary claims more than the results show

  16. Paper

    Homes with price rises slowly used less power, but weren't compared with others
    UsedNo comparison

    Homes with price rises, especially with a live screen, slowly used less power, but this wasn't compared with other homes.

    Randomised trial of 437 households in Connecticut, USA · no comparison group · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ not yet checked by other scientists; summary claims more than the results show; many people dropped out; habit trend not compared with control

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