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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 May 22.
Published in final edited form as: Health Promot Pract. 2015 Jun 8;17(1):88–97. doi: 10.1177/1524839915589732

TABLE 2.

SOSPAN Instrument Sequence of Scans and Variables collected

Scan Variable
SOSPAN physical activity promotion scana
 Activity context Scheduled activity
Grade level of children
Location of activity
Equipment available
 Staff promotion behaviors Staff leading or instructing physical activity
Staff verbally promoting physical activity
Staff engaged in physical activity with children (i.e., playing the games)
Choice provided (i.e., more than one activity opportunity provided)
Small game (i.e., games with less than 10 children participating)
Girls-only physical activity opportunity
 Staff discouraging behaviors Staff giving instructions
Staff disciplining children
Idle time (i.e., children waiting for direction from staff with no specific task)
Children standing in line and waiting for turn
Playing elimination game (i.e., children eliminated from physical activity opportunities)
Staff verbally discouraging physical activity
Withholding physical activity as a consequence of misbehavior
SOSPAN nutrition promotion scanb
 Staff promotion behaviors Staff verbally promoting healthy eating
Staff verbally educating children about healthy eating
Children preparing food
Children distributing food to other children
 Staff discouraging behaviors Staff eating inappropriate foods
Staff drinking other than water

NOTE: SOSPAN = System for Observing Staff Promotion of Activity and Nutrition.

a

Scans completed during all scheduled activities.

b

Scans completed during scheduled snack or lunch only.