Formative Research

This past Thursday morning, Liz and I set out to begin formative research for our group project. We visited one of the on-campus student dining halls and were able to directly observe the breakfast food offerings. In the photo, you can see the menu and the selected options that were displayed to students as they entered the cafeteria. As we walked around the cafeteria, I was shocked by the limited availability of fresh fruits in the morning and also by the lack of healthy nutritional messages. We observed one wall that displayed framed pictures of fruits and vegetables, a decoration basket full of plastic fruits, a table tent ad promoting a healthy dinner at the cafeteria as part of a study routine, and one print nutritional handout. Ironically, the nutritional handout was placed next to a flowerpot and could potentially be overlooked by students as they passed by.

Liz introduced herself to the cafeteria manager (a "gatekeeper") and told her about our group project. But the manager stated she was unavailable at that time. The manager suggested that we return to the cafeteria for lunch of dinner sometime for our own experience and to observe students' behaviors. Initially I received this suggestion as a mere brush-off. But it might actually be something for us to consider in order to understand on-campus students behavioral characteristics and psychographics. I think it is also important for us as a group to contact other potential "gatekeepers" (ex. Housing & Dining Services, Residential Life, Student Life, etc.) in advance via email or phone to inform them of our project and interest in setting-up a brief interview. I'm personally interested in finding out how "gatekeepers" feel about sending healthy nutritional messages to students in the cafeteria since so few were found.