The Use of the Pile Sort Method in Identifying Groups of Healthful Lifestyle Behaviors among Female Community College Students

When encountering new or understudied populations, it is useful to build an understanding of the needs and perceptions of the target audience. This study investigated the application of the qualitative pile sort method for gaining information about nutrition and physical activity behaviors. In a pile sort, individuals make a list of topics relevant to a particular subject, and then they group these topics into related piles. This study investigated whether there was consistency in the ways in which participants grouped behaviors related to having a healthful lifestyle. Pile sorts were conducted during six focus groups among 28 female community college students (46% white; 39% had a 2-year degree or higher). A total of 74 piles of grouped behaviors were coded from the transcripts. Analyses revealed good consistency (identified nine to 12 times) for four groupings: exercise, lifestyle, how you eat, and positive foods. The pile sort method represents an activity that can be incorporated into formative research for interventions focused on complex behaviors with multiple components; in addition, this method may provide structure to counseling sessions and facilitate a better understanding of the perceptions of healthful eating and physical activity from patients' perspectives.