Laura Z.H. Jansen , Ellen J. Van Loo , Kwabena E. Bennin , Ellen van Kleef
{"title":"Exploring the role of decision support systems in promoting healthier and more sustainable online food shopping: A card sorting study","authors":"Laura Z.H. Jansen , Ellen J. Van Loo , Kwabena E. Bennin , Ellen van Kleef","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2023.106638","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study aims to identify opportunities and barriers in developing and implementing Food Shopping Support Systems (FSSS) for healthier and more sustainable choices, given the growing consumer demand and persistent societal problems related to food. The study examined the social and technical value of FSSS in an early development stage through one-on-one expert interviews (n = 20) and consumer focus groups (4 groups, n = 19). Experts were employed in the fields of behavioral sciences, digital marketing, decision aids, software development, persuasive technologies, and public health and sustainability. Consumer participants were used to shopping online. Through a card sorting task followed by semi-structured interview questions, responses were elicited. Participants were presented with 17 cards in 5 rounds, each addressing a different topic related to decision support. Results show that support is perceived useful, particularly when suggestions are personalized, transparent, and justified (using labelling or informative text). Opportunities for uptake were presenting suggestions early in the shopping trip in a visible but non-disruptive manner, allowing autonomy to choose the type of guidance (e.g., show sustainable but not healthier suggestions) and to (not) provide personal data, and educating consumers. Negative attitudes were associated with support being disruptive or steering, being of low credibility, and unclarity about what is healthy or sustainable. Consumer participants expressed concerns about too generic suggestions in relation to health and lack of knowledge about labelling. They emphasized that excessive support and required effort, such as repeatedly providing data, can be burdensome. Experts also worried about limited consumer interest and not having the required data to provide support. Results from this study reveal the potential for successful digital interventions to encourage healthier and more sustainable choices and what this means for further development.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 106638"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6000,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Appetite","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019566632301108X","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study aims to identify opportunities and barriers in developing and implementing Food Shopping Support Systems (FSSS) for healthier and more sustainable choices, given the growing consumer demand and persistent societal problems related to food. The study examined the social and technical value of FSSS in an early development stage through one-on-one expert interviews (n = 20) and consumer focus groups (4 groups, n = 19). Experts were employed in the fields of behavioral sciences, digital marketing, decision aids, software development, persuasive technologies, and public health and sustainability. Consumer participants were used to shopping online. Through a card sorting task followed by semi-structured interview questions, responses were elicited. Participants were presented with 17 cards in 5 rounds, each addressing a different topic related to decision support. Results show that support is perceived useful, particularly when suggestions are personalized, transparent, and justified (using labelling or informative text). Opportunities for uptake were presenting suggestions early in the shopping trip in a visible but non-disruptive manner, allowing autonomy to choose the type of guidance (e.g., show sustainable but not healthier suggestions) and to (not) provide personal data, and educating consumers. Negative attitudes were associated with support being disruptive or steering, being of low credibility, and unclarity about what is healthy or sustainable. Consumer participants expressed concerns about too generic suggestions in relation to health and lack of knowledge about labelling. They emphasized that excessive support and required effort, such as repeatedly providing data, can be burdensome. Experts also worried about limited consumer interest and not having the required data to provide support. Results from this study reveal the potential for successful digital interventions to encourage healthier and more sustainable choices and what this means for further development.
期刊介绍:
Appetite is an international research journal specializing in cultural, social, psychological, sensory and physiological influences on the selection and intake of foods and drinks. It covers normal and disordered eating and drinking and welcomes studies of both human and non-human animal behaviour toward food. Appetite publishes research reports, reviews and commentaries. Thematic special issues appear regularly. From time to time the journal carries abstracts from professional meetings. Submissions to Appetite are expected to be based primarily on observations directly related to the selection and intake of foods and drinks; papers that are primarily focused on topics such as nutrition or obesity will not be considered unless they specifically make a novel scientific contribution to the understanding of appetite in line with the journal's aims and scope.