Preparation (mis)perception: effects of involvement on food attributes and desirability
ISSN: 0007-070X
Article publication date: 28 October 2020
Issue publication date: 20 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the effect of involvement in food preparation on estimated calorie content, perception of portion size and desirability of the food item.
Design/methodology/approach
To test the hypotheses, three between-subjects experiments (one online, two in a laboratory setting) were conducted. Across the three experiments, participants were presented with a food item either ready for consumption (low involvement) or with the individual ingredients in need of assembly prior to consumption (high involvement).
Findings
Results showed that when a consumer is involved in the preparation of their food, they perceive the food to be lower in calories and smaller in portion size than when the same food is presented fully prepared and ready-to-eat. In addition, the effect of food preparation involvement on perception of portion size has negative downstream consequences on food desirability, as a smaller perceived portion resulted in a less desirable food item.
Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge, the results of this research are the first to focus on the impact of preparation involvement on perceptions of the specific product attributes of calorie content and portion size, and the downstream effect on desirability.
Keywords
Citation
Lefebvre, S. and Orlowski, M. (2021), "Preparation (mis)perception: effects of involvement on food attributes and desirability", British Food Journal, Vol. 123 No. 2, pp. 739-753. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-03-2020-0166
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited