\input zb-basic \input zb-ioport \iteman{io-port 05730025} \itemau{Segerst{\aa}hl, Katarina; Kotro, Tanja; V\"a\"an\"anen-Vainio-Mattila, Kaisa} \itemti{Pitfalls in persuasion: how do users experience persuasive techniques in a Web service?} \itemso{Ploug, Thomas (ed.) et al., Persuasive technology. 5th international conference, PERSUASIVE 2010, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 7--10, 2010. Proceedings. Berlin: Springer (ISBN 978-3-642-13225-4/pbk). Lecture Notes in Computer Science 6137, 211-222 (2010).} \itemab Summary: Persuasive technologies are designed by utilizing a variety of interactive techniques that are believed to promote target behaviors. This paper describes a field study in which the aim was to discover possible pitfalls of persuasion, i.e., situations in which persuasive techniques do not function as expected. The study investigated persuasive functionality of a web service targeting weight loss. A qualitative online questionnaire was distributed through the web service and a total of 291 responses were extracted for interpretative analysis. The Persuasive Systems Design model (PSD) was used for supporting systematic analysis of persuasive functionality. Pitfalls were identified through situations that evoked negative user experiences. The primary pitfalls discovered were associated with manual logging of eating and exercise behaviors, appropriateness of suggestions and source credibility issues related to social facilitation. These pitfalls, when recognized, can be addressed in design by applying functional and facilitative persuasive techniques in meaningful combinations. \itemrv{~} \itemcc{} \itemut{user experience; Web service; qualitative field study; Web-based health promotion; persuasive systems design model} \itemli{doi:10.1007/978-3-642-13226-1\_22} \end