A focus group approach to understanding food‐related emotions with children using words and emojis

Abstract

Focus groups were conducted to understand children's use of emotion words and emojis to describe reactions to foods. A total of 17 children, ages 8–11, in three groups of 4–8, were asked to use words and emojis to describe how they felt in response to self‐selected favorite, least favorite, and “just okay” foods before, during, and after recalled consumption occasions. Participants also provided responses to three food interventions before tasting, after tasting, and after seeing product packaging. In addition, the group discussed emotion words and emoji valence. Although children initially were concerned with product characteristics, such as flavor, when explaining their food preferences, participants readily used both words and emojis in discussion and activities to communicate how foods made them feel. Words and emojis not considered for further testing were either infrequently used, redundant (based on children's usage), or not used to describe a feeling in response to a stimulus. Based on children's use of the words and emojis through discussion and activities, a list of 51 words and 38 emojis were considered appropriate for further emotion testing with children ages 8–11. Practical applications This research addresses the need for a food emotion tool for use with children. The findings show that children are able to use both words and emojis to describe their emotions in response to varied products. The resulting lists of words and emojis can be used in subsequent quantitative testing with children.

Cross-national differences in child food neophobia: A comparison of five European countries

“…Emoticons are familiar to children and 129 enable embedding the research task in a game-like situation, which is known to increase children's 130 motivation and attention span. Moreover, representing a non-verbal method, emoticons may offer a 131 standardized, universal way across countries to measure food behavior in children (Gallo et al, 2017). 132…”

“…The aim of this study was to explore and compare FN in five 13European countries (Finland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and UK) using a food neophobia scale specifically designed 14 for children. Five hundred and twenty-nine children (54% girls) aged 9-12 years were recruited from schools 15 in each country and were asked to complete the Italian Child Food Neophobia Scale (ICFNS, Laureati et al,16 2015a), which was translated into each respective language. Parents (n≈300) completed a food consumption 17 frequency questionnaire for their child, and provided background information.…”

Comparing visual food images versus actual food when measuring emotional response of children

“…Emotion words were presented in alphabetical order, while emojis were randomized to the assessor so that each participant saw the same randomized order or emojis for each sample, as recommended by Meyners and Castura (2016). Emotion words and emojis relevant to children's experiences with food were identified through prior focus group testing with a different group of 8 to 11-year-old children conducted at the Kansas State University-Olathe research facility (Gallo, Swaney-Stueve, & Chambers, 2017).…”

The K‐State emoji scale

“…With the dearth of available, acceptable methods for this type of research, less traditional mediums are being explored. One example of this is the use of emojis to record reactions to consumer products; there is a growing number of examples showcasing the capabilities of research with emojis in both adults and children (Gallo, Swaney‐Stueve, & Chambers, , ; Jaeger & Ares, ; Jaeger, Lee, et al, ; Jaeger, Vidal, Kam, & Ares, ; Schouteten, Verwaeren, Lagast, Gellynck, & De Steur, ; Schouteten, Verwaeren, Gellynck, & Almli, ; Swaney‐Stueve, Jepsen, & Deubler, ; Vidal, Ares, & Jaeger, ). As these new methods become available, it is critical they are tested for validity across age groups.…”