This study is a test of possible mechanisms by which calorie labels might lead people to increase calorie intake. The investigators hypothesize that calorie labels might increase calorie intake because 1) people infer that higher calorie foods are tastier, 2) calorie labels invoke thoughts of dieting, leading people to overconsume as a reaction, 3) people try to maximize calories consumed per dollar spent, and 4) calorie labels change one's goal motivation toward food, causing people to eat more.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Nutrition label featuring calorie information will be provided.
No nutrition label will be provided in this condition.
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Calories consumed
The investigators will assess how many calories are consumed by participants by weighing the cereal provided before and after participants complete the taste test portion of the study. This will happen within 30 minutes of the intervention, which is an experimental manipulation of whether or not calorie labels are present.
Time frame: At time of intervention (30 minutes)
Attitudes toward food
Using survey measures, the investigators will assess how people feel toward the food item they just tasted, rating it in terms of perceived tastiness, healthiness, overall quality, and value. These ratings will be on a Likert scale from 1-5.
Time frame: At time of intervention (30 minutes)
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