Using In-Situ Physiological Measures to Assess Engagement in a Healthy Eating Program

Participant engagement is critical to program success yet is under-measured because of reliance on retrospective self-report methods. This study examines the feasibility and utility of real-time physiological measures for assessing in-situ engagement during a six-week healthy eating program. Engagement was measured with wearable heart rate sensors using Immersion Neuroscience Software (INS) and self-reported surveys. Feasibility was assessed through data completeness and the implementation of INS data-collection procedures across sessions and sites, whereas analytic utility was examined through engagement patterns across sessions and program segments. INS data were collected in all sessions, yielding usable data for 94% of eligible observations. Cooking demonstrations elicited significantly higher INS engagement than lessons. Physiological engagement metrics captured variation over time, whereas self-reported engagement showed ceiling effects. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and added value of integrating real-time physiological measures into program evaluation, offering evaluators a granular approach to understanding participant experience and informing program refinement.