IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/agfoec/v12y2024i1d10.1186_s40100-024-00335-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digital nudging at the university canteen: an online study with American young adults

Author

Listed:
  • Giulia Andreani

    (University of Parma (UNIPR))

  • Rungsaran Wongprawmas

    (University of Parma (UNIPR))

  • Beatrice Biasini

    (University of Parma (UNIPR))

  • Alice Rosi

    (University of Parma (UNIPR))

  • Cinzia Franchini

    (University of Parma (UNIPR))

  • Irina Dolgopolova

    (Maastricht University)

  • Cristina Mora

    (University of Parma (UNIPR))

  • Davide Menozzi

    (University of Parma (UNIPR))

  • Francesca Scazzina

    (University of Parma (UNIPR))

  • Miguel I. Gómez

    (Cornell University)

  • Jutta Roosen

    (Technical University of Munich)

  • Giovanni Sogari

    (University of Parma (UNIPR))

Abstract

Resource scarcity, the effects of climate change, food insecurity, and health issues related to dietary choices have prompted policymakers to develop new strategies to encourage populations to opt for healthy and sustainable (HS) diets. In this context, nudging strategies are promising tools to promote healthy and sustainable dietary behaviors. However, nudges are context-dependent as a specific nudging intervention should be employed in a specific context. This research aims at determining the effects of different nudges on students’ food choices in the context of a hypothetical online pre-ordering system of the college canteen. An experimental study was conducted in the USA with 1400 American college students (18–24 years old). We used a between-subject design with one control and three treatment groups—i.e., a HS logo to identify HS dishes, dish placement (the order in which dishes are displayed on the menu), and a combination of the two nudges. Our main results showed that the logo and logo plus placement led to a significantly increased selection of HS dishes among students who already had strong HS eating behaviors. In addition, individual characteristics (e.g., being flexitarian or vegetarian, being on a low-calorie diet, being a graduate student, and living in dormitories on college campuses) also affected their HS food choices; thus, the population traits, living conditions, and eating habits should be taken into consideration in order to establish successful nudging techniques.

Suggested Citation

  • Giulia Andreani & Rungsaran Wongprawmas & Beatrice Biasini & Alice Rosi & Cinzia Franchini & Irina Dolgopolova & Cristina Mora & Davide Menozzi & Francesca Scazzina & Miguel I. Gómez & Jutta Roosen & , 2024. "Digital nudging at the university canteen: an online study with American young adults," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 12(1), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agfoec:v:12:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1186_s40100-024-00335-5
    DOI: 10.1186/s40100-024-00335-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1186/s40100-024-00335-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1186/s40100-024-00335-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sogari, Giovanni & Wongprawmas, Rungsaran & Andreani, Giulia & Lefebvre, Michele & Pellegrini, Nicoletta & Gómez, Miguel I. & Mora, Cristina & Menozzi, Davide, 2024. "Intention and behavior toward eating whole grain pasta on a college dining campus: Theory of Planned Behavior and message framing," Bio-based and Applied Economics Journal, Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AIEAA), vol. 13(3), October.
    2. Elisa Giampietri & Giuseppe Bugin & Samuele Trestini, 2021. "On the association between risk attitude and fruit and vegetable consumption: insights from university students in Italy," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Oliver P. Hauser & Francesca Gino & Michael I. Norton, 2018. "Budging beliefs, nudging behaviour," Mind & Society: Cognitive Studies in Economics and Social Sciences, Springer;Fondazione Rosselli, vol. 17(1), pages 15-26, November.
    4. Irina Dolgopolova & Alessia Toscano & Jutta Roosen, 2021. "Different Shades of Nudges: Moderating Effects of Individual Characteristics and States on the Effectiveness of Nudges during a Fast-Food Order," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Laiou, Elpiniki & Rapti, Iro & Schwarzer, Ralf & Fleig, Lena & Cianferotti, Luisella & Ngo, Joy & Rizos, Evangelos C. & Wetle, Terrie Fox & Kahlmeier, Sonja & Vigilanza, Antonella & Tsilidis, Konstant, 2021. "Review: Nudge interventions to promote healthy diets and physical activity," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    6. Romain Cadario & Pierre Chandon, 2020. "Which Healthy Eating Nudges Work Best? A Meta-Analysis of Field Experiments," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 39(3), pages 465-486, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. repec:ags:aaea22:335733 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Wang, Lanjie & Zhang, Xuan & Kim, Seonghoon & Koh, Kanghyock, 2024. "Weight perception and weight management via information nudges," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 332-353.
    3. Erich Renz & Marvin M. Müller & Kim Leonardo Böhm, 2023. "When nudges promote neutral behavior: an experimental study of managerial decisions under risk and uncertainty," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 93(8), pages 1309-1354, October.
    4. Christine Kawa & Wim H. Gijselaers & Jan F. H. Nijhuis & Patrizia M. Ianiro-Dahm, 2022. "Are You “Nudgeable”? Factors Affecting the Acceptance of Healthy Eating Nudges in a Cafeteria Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-20, March.
    5. Dizon, Felipe & Yu, Jisang, 2021. "Nudges versus subsidies: Experimental evidence on the demand for a nutritious food in India," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 1091-1111.
    6. Pozharliev, Rumen & De Angelis, Matteo & Rossi, Dario & Bagozzi, Richard & Amatulli, Cesare, 2023. "I might try it: Marketing actions to reduce consumer disgust toward insect-based food," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 149-167.
    7. Helena Fornwagner & Oliver P. Hauser, 2022. "Climate Action for (My) Children," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 81(1), pages 95-130, January.
    8. Bauer, Jan M. & Aarestrup, Simon C. & Hansen, Pelle G. & Reisch, Lucia A., 2022. "Nudging more sustainable grocery purchases: Behavioural innovations in a supermarket setting," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    9. Pierre Dubois & Paulo Albuquerque & Olivier Allais & Céline Bonnet & Patrice Bertail & Pierre Combris & Saadi Lahlou & Natalie Rigal & Bernard Ruffieux & Pierre Chandon, 2021. "Effects of front-of-pack labels on the nutritional quality of supermarket food purchases: evidence from a large-scale randomized controlled trial," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 119-138, January.
    10. Michael Hallsworth, 2023. "A manifesto for applying behavioural science," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(3), pages 310-322, March.
    11. Vugts, Anastasia & van den Heuvel, Emmy & Havermans, Remco C., 2024. "Factors affecting public acceptance of healthy lifestyle nudges," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    12. Christoph F. Wiedenroth & Verena Otter, 2022. "Can new healthy luxury food products accelerate short food supply chain formation via social media marketing in high-income countries?," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 10(1), pages 1-30, December.
    13. Dannenberg, Astrid & Weingärtner, Eva, 2023. "The effects of observability and an information nudge on food choice," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    14. Eugen Dimant & Tobias Gesche, 2021. "Nudging Enforcers: How Norm Perceptions and Motives for Lying Shape Sanctions," CESifo Working Paper Series 9385, CESifo.
    15. Ortiz, Jose M. & Teixeira, Lucas I. & Falcão, Natália N.L. & Soki, Erika A. & Almeida, Raquel M., 2024. "Information simplification and default choices improve financial decisions: A credit card statement experiment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    16. Andor, Mark Andreas & Götte, Lorenz & Price, Michael Keith & Schulze Tilling, Anna & Tomberg, Lukas, 2023. "Differences in how and why social comparisons and real-time feedback impact resource use: Evidence from a field experiment," Ruhr Economic Papers 1059, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    17. Victor I. Espinosa & William Hongsong Wang & Jesús Huerta de Soto, 2022. "Principles of Nudging and Boosting: Steering or Empowering Decision-Making for Behavioral Development Economics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    18. Sergei Schaub & Jaboury Ghazoul & Robert Huber & Wei Zhang & Adelaide Sander & Charles Rees & Simanti Banerjee & Robert Finger, 2023. "The role of behavioural factors and opportunity costs in farmers' participation in voluntary agri‐environmental schemes: A systematic review," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(3), pages 617-660, September.
    19. Zhou, Li & Zhu, Guowei, 2022. "Mind the gap: How the numerical precision of exercise-data-based food labels can nudge healthier food choices," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 354-367.
    20. Ismaël Rafaï & Arthur Ribaillier & Dorian Jullien, 2021. "The impact on nudge acceptability judgments of framing and consultation of the targeted population," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-03228638, HAL.
    21. Lily Grigsby-Duffy & Sally Schultz & Liliana Orellana & Ella Robinson & Adrian J. Cameron & Josephine Marshall & Kathryn Backholer & Gary Sacks, 2020. "The Healthiness of Food and Beverages on Price Promotion at Promotional Displays: A Cross-Sectional Audit of Australian Supermarkets," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-17, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:agfoec:v:12:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1186_s40100-024-00335-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.