The Impact of Default Options and Reinforcement Ratios on Food Choice
Year: 2020
Type: preprint
Abstract: Individuals engage in a variety of dietary choices each day that affect their overall health. Determining what variables might influence food choice can provide useful information to assist people in making healthier decisions. The current studies utilized a behavioral economic paradigm to evaluate patterns in food choice as default food options changed. Study 1 evaluated participants’ persistence at a computer game task when working for a preferred snack food as the reinforcement ratio for this food increases across six trials. Default food presented also varied across trials. Study 2 replicated the first study under conditions of caloric deprivation (after a 24-hour fast). Results indicate that manipulation of environmental variables were successful in shifting participant’s efforts to obtain a food reward. Individuals were less likely to work towards their most preferred food as the reinforcement ratio increased. Furthermore, the default food option on each trial produced a significant effect on time spent working for a more or less preferred food. Finally, level of dietary restraint predicted persistence for preferred food after fasting. Overall, findings add to a growing body of evidence that highlight the importance of environmental manipulations such as default options in everyday decision making.
Language: English
Subfield: General Decision Sciences
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3164112147