The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of encouragement on exercise duration within the conceptual framework of the Köhler motivation gain effect, which boosts task motivation for weaker group members in conjunctive tasks. Recent research on exercise with virtually-present partners found that encouragement attenuated the Köhler effect (Irwin, Feltz, & Kerr, 2013). The current study compared exclusive encouragement (e.g., "you can do it") and inclusive encouragement (e.g., "we can do it") as potential moderators of the Köhler motivation gain effect. Female and male college students (n = 240) were assigned to one of five conditions (individual-control, individual-with-encouragement, partner-no-encouragement, partner-inclusive-encouragement, partner-exclusive-encouragement) and each performed two blocks of isometric abdominal plank exercises. A significant motivation gain was observed in all partnered conditions compared to the control, t(235) = 8.37, p < .001. Encouragement from a virtually present partner, regardless of inclusivity, did not moderate performance outcomes attributed to the Köhler effect. Encouragement in the absence of a partner altogether also boosted exercise motivation over the control group, but to a lesser degree than the Köhler effect, t(235) = 3.23, p = .001. These findings suggest that encouragement from a superior partner does not moderate the Köhler effect in exergames. In games without a partner, an encouraging voice may be better than playing in silence.
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