Experiments to Uncover Unconscious Behavior
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SmallPlateMovement.org SmarterLunchrooms.org Brian Wansink - 2009 Experiments to Uncover Unconscious Behavior Criteria : • Real problem • Relevant to food (health) • Actionable • Best method • Best journal
description
Experiments to Uncover Unconscious Behavior. Criteria: Real problem Relevant to food (health) Actionable Best method Best journal. Experiments to Uncover Unconscious Behavior. Example: Cough medicine dosage & kids 70% use spoons Does spoon size bias dosage? Why? When worst?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Experiments to Uncover Unconscious Behavior
SmallPlateMovement.orgSmarterLunchrooms.org
Brian Wansink - 2009
Experiments to Uncover Unconscious Behavior
Criteria: • Real problem• Relevant to
food (health)• Actionable• Best method• Best journal
SmallPlateMovement.orgSmarterLunchrooms.org
Brian Wansink - 2009
Method: • Pediatrician office flu/cold patients• 2x2: teasp vs. tblsp; kid vs. no kid• Pour ½ tsp; answer questions• Off to see pediatrician
Example: • Cough medicine
dosage & kids• 70% use spoons• Does spoon size
bias dosage?• Why? When
worst?
Experiments to Uncover Unconscious Behavior
Criteria: • Real problem• Relevant to
food (health)• Actionable• Best method• Best journal
Results (mgs poured):
SmallPlateMovement.orgSmarterLunchrooms.org
Brian Wansink - 2009
Method: • Pediatrician office flu/cold patients• 2x2: teasp vs. tblsp; kid vs. no kid• Pour ½ tsp; answer questions• Off to see pediatrician
Example: • Cough medicine
dosage & kids• 70% use spoons• Does spoon size
bias dosage?• Why? When
worst?
Experiments to Uncover Unconscious Behavior
Criteria: • Real problem• Relevant to
food (health)• Actionable• Best method• Best journal
Results (mgs poured):
Teaspoon
Tablesp
oon2.5
3.5
4.5
No KidKid Present
SmallPlateMovement.orgSmarterLunchrooms.org
Brian Wansink - 2009
Experiments to Uncover Unconscious Behavior
What tricks us (and kids) into overeating or eating worse?
What environmental cues induce Mindless Eating?
How do we know when are we sated?
What biases our taste?
How do parents influence eating habits?
SmallPlateMovement.orgSmarterLunchrooms.org
Brian Wansink - 2009
Unforeseen Benefits from Cross-Disciplinary Research
No one cares about food behavior. Why can’t you study something important? – Dean, 1994
• Most theories in consumer behavior and psychology are overly nuanced (3rd way interactions, 3-5 studies or excessive mathematical complexity)
• Interdisciplinary research offers wider options . . .Consistent results of a new, important inspired theory
vs.New, inspired, important results with consistent theory
• New horizons, new friends, new influence
• What value-added is your 21st article in an old field versus your 1st article in a new field?
SmallPlateMovement.orgSmarterLunchrooms.org
Brian Wansink - 2009
New Questions I Would Like to Join with Others to Answer?
1. BMI Brothers: How can two kids from the same family have widely different BMIs?
2. Hidden Persuaders: What do parents do that unknowingly influences their children’s eating behavior at a different time (school, older)?
3. Baby Buffet: Does wide exposure to variety at 1-2 lead to wider preferences later in life? What makes a foodee?
4. SmarterLunchrooms.org – How can we nudge better lunchroom decisions?
5. Food Stylizing: Why do high-end culinary conventions imply meat forward, odd numbers, height not width? Can we use this to trick kids into eating healthier?
