A17: Choice Modeling Framework: Snack Food Decisions Among College Students

Humans face many choices in healthy living with food choices being vital in a healthy diet. Decision makers must consider a variety of attributes and options when deciding. We investigated college students’ preferences for 16 common snack foods; the snacks ranged in health, taste, convivence, familiarity, and satiation. We looked at two 50/50 “grab bag” gambles with two snacks each, as well as pairs of single snacks. Decision-making has historically been focused on the result of the choice. In our study, we use process tracing methods such as mouse movement, eye fixation location, and self-reported values of snacks and their attributes, in addition to the choice itself. We present results showing that snack food choice is influenced by attention, valuation, and weighing attributions of options. There is evidence of differences in the processes of pairs of single snacks compared to the “grab bag” gambles. This is because of the amount of risk in the two processes. Our results demonstrate how process-tracing methods can extend the knowledge of how decisions are made. Using these results one can predict the individual decision-makers by using decision-making models. Health interventions could potentially use this information to target the public to increase healthy eating.

Author(s): Kat Pikus, Psychology Major

Sarah Lett, Psychology and Nutrition Major

Katie Craig, Psychology

Major Tori Dusing, Data Analytics Major

Maddie Reger, Psychology Major

Mallory Miller, Psychology and Neuroscience Major

Emily Weinstein, Psychology Major

Katharine Chadd, Psychology and Economics Major

Isabella Speanza, Psychology Major

Chi Vo, Psychology and Data Science & Statistics Major

Advisor(s): Joseph Johnson, Department of Psychology

Lauren Davidson, Department of Psychology

Elizabeth Pettit, Department of Psychology