Understanding the Determinants of Food Choice: The Role of Prejudice

Last registered on November 06, 2023

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Understanding the Determinants of Food Choice: The Role of Prejudice
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0008982
Initial registration date
February 28, 2022

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
February 28, 2022, 4:57 PM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated
November 06, 2023, 7:28 AM EST

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Primary Investigator

Affiliation
Cornell University

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
Cornell University

Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2022-02-02
End date
2023-01-01
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study contributes to the literature in behavioral economics and specifically on the role of preconceptions in dietary choices. We will conduct a small scale randomized controlled experiment and examine how people's valuations of a vegan food product depend on prior information about the nature of the product. Concretely, we will contrast conditions where participants have the opportunity to purchase a vegan product and vary (1) whether they can taste the product beforehand, (2) whether they are informed the product is vegan and (3) the timing of when they receive information about the nature of the product. This design will help us understand how preconceptions interfere with choices and with possible updating of beliefs and ultimately, possible behavioral change.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Belot, Michele and Adelson Teh. 2023. "Understanding the Determinants of Food Choice: The Role of Prejudice ." AEA RCT Registry. November 06. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.8982-1.3
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2022-02-02
Intervention End Date
2022-03-30

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Primary outcome: Mean valuation of taste (likert scale from 1 to 7)
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Participants will be asked to evaluate a food item on a scale from 1 to 7.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Mean valuations of product, texture and willingness to pay for product
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
See pre-analysis plan document
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
We will conduct the experiment in the laboratory, with 2 participants at the time, each seating far away from each other and without interactions. Time slots will be allocated to treatments.
Mon 2/28: 2:15-4:15 (Group 1)
Tue 3/1: 4:15-6:15 (Group 2)
Wed 3/2: 9:00-11:00 (Group 3)
Thur 3/3: 4:15-6:15 (Group 4)
Fri 3/4: 2:00-4:00 (Group 2)
Mon 3/7: 5:45-7:45 (Group 3)
Tue 3/8: 12:30-2:30 (Group 4)
Wed 3/9: 5:00-7:00 (Group 1)
Thur 3/10: 12:30-2:30 (Group 3)
Fri 3/11: 2:00-4:00 (Group 4)

Mon 3/14: 5:45-7:45 (Group 2)
Tue 3/15: 12:30-2:30 (Group 1)
Wed 3/16: 9:00-11:00 (Back-up, flexible)
Thur 3/17: 4:15-6:15 (Back-up, flexible)
Fri 3/18: 2:00-4:00 (Back-up, flexible)
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
Wave1: 200 individuals, 12 time slots pre-allocated to treatments, 3 time slots with flexible allocation (depending on how many participants are still needed for each treatment)

Wave 2: 480 individuals
Sample size: planned number of observations
200 (wave 1) + 480 (wave 2)
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
50 (wave 1), 120 (wave 2)
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Expected mean valuation of taste of 3.5, with expected standard deviation of 0.5. Minimum detectable size effect of 0.28 with alpha 0.05 and power 0.80. We expect similar min detectable effects for the secondary outcomes.
Supporting Documents and Materials

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IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Cornell IRB
IRB Approval Date
2022-02-03
IRB Approval Number
IRB0010724
Analysis Plan

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Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials