Personal Quantification

What it is

In six experiments Jordan Etkin found that measuring an activity increased how much people did of it and reduced how much they enjoyed it, which she attributed to weakened intrinsic motivation. A survey of avid cyclists by Stephen Flora and Kristopher Brown found most tracker users enjoyed riding and found it more interesting.

In effect

The article on maxxing uses it as the research on what a score does to a habit.

What it does not say

The effects were found in experiments and in a survey of one group of cyclists, and they point in different directions on enjoyment. They do not say whether counting helps or harms any one person.

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