Use of Preference Analysis to Identify Early Adopter Mind-Sets of Insect-Based Food Products

Isaac Ho, Attila Gere, Charles Chy and Amy Lammert
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Isaac Ho: CA—FSN Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
Attila Gere: Institute of Food Science and Technology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, H-1118 Budapest, Hungary
Charles Chy: MindCart AI, Allentown, PA 18103, USA
Amy Lammert: CA—FSN Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Insects may potentially provide an alternative protein source. However, consumers may not easily accept insects due to feelings of disgust. Therefore, identifying early adopters of insect-based food products may determine their future acceptance. This study was conducted to (1) identify early adopter Mind-Sets of insect-based food products, (2) determine product features early adopters would prefer in an insect-based food product, and (3) determine differences in Mind-Sets in different countries. Two studies were distributed online in the US and the Philippines. The first study included information about insects, while the second study had no information on insects. The experimental design included elements, or product features, regarding insect-based products that participants evaluated. Preference Analysis was used to segment the participants into Mind-Sets. Based on the results, participants neither liked nor disliked the elements used. Participants in the studies without insect information were found to have higher liking when comparing liking. Participants who were aware of the study being about insects may have had less interest when evaluating the elements, as the response times between the US studies were significantly different ( p < 0.05). The role of information and segmentation of the participants demonstrates the importance of experimental design when using Preference Analysis.

Keywords: preference analysis; mind-sets; early adopters; insects; insect-based food products (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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