Innovations in consumer research: The virtual food buffet. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ung, Chin-Yih; Menozzi, Marino; Hartmann, Christina; Siegrist, Michael
• Is Part Of: Food quality and preference. Volume 63(2018)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 17
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Virtual reality -- Virtual food buffet -- Food choice -- Fake food buffet -- Simulation; Food preferences -- Periodicals; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Préférences alimentaires -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Food industry and trade -- Quality control; Food preferences; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2017.07.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-3293

Abstract

Highlights: Proof of concept that the virtual food buffet is a useful tool. Virtual reality is a promising method for human nutritional behavior research. Participants behaved similar in the virtual reality and in the fake food condition. Abstract: Experimental studies are important in the process of gaining a better understanding of people's food choices. The present study, which tested the validity of a virtual food buffet, delivers a proof of concept. The proposed method uses virtual reality to simulate a buffet with three different foods from which participants could serve a meal. To determine the validity of the new method, a fake food buffet—known to be a valid and reliable method—was used as a comparison. A sample of 34 participants served themselves two meals, one in virtual reality and one from a fake food buffet. The order of the two buffets was randomized. We observed high correlations between the kJs of the foods served in the two conditions ( r ≥ 0.75, p < 0.001). Our results suggest that the virtual food buffet is a useful research method. Virtual reality seems to be a promising method for examining the impact of environmental cues on human nutritional behavior.