Measuring Implicit Approach–Avoidance Tendencies towards Food Using a Mobile Phone outside the Lab

Abstract

Implicit (‘unconscious’) approach–avoidance tendencies towards stimuli can be measured using the Approach Avoidance Task (AAT). We recently expanded a toolbox for analyzing the raw data of a novel, mobile version of the AAT (mAAT), that asks participants to move their phone towards their face (pull) or away (push) in response to images presented on the phone. We here tested the mAAT reaction time and the mAAT distance in a study with 71 Dutch participants that were recruited online and performed an experiment without coming to the laboratory. The participants used both the mAAT and (explicit) rating scales to respond to photographic images of food. As hypothesized, the rated wanting, rated valence and mAAT reaction time indicated a preference for palatable over unpalatable food, and for Dutch over Asian food. Additionally, as expected, arousal was rated higher for unpalatable than for palatable food, and higher for Dutch than for Asian food. The mAAT distance indicated that the unpalatable food images were moved across larger distances, regardless of the movement direction (pull or push), compared to the palatable food images; and the Dutch food images were moved across larger distances than the Asian food images. We conclude that the mAAT can be used to implicitly probe approach–avoidance motivation for complex images in the food domain. The new measure of mAAT distance may be used as an implicit measure of arousal. The ratings and the mAAT measures do not reflect the exact same information and may complement each other. Implicit measures, such as mAAT variables, are particularly valuable when response biases that can occur when using explicit ratings are expected.

Testing the effectiveness of a mobile approach avoidance intervention and measuring approach biases in an ecological momentary assessment context: study protocol for a randomised-controlled trial

“…27 59-61 This task has been shown to be a valid tool to measure food approach biases outside the laboratory and to provide relevant information beyond self-report measures. 59 In addition to RTs, it also yields data on the force of the movements, which might contain relevant information not captured by RTs. 61 The study presented here sets out to test its effectiveness as an intervention tool for AAI; that is, when it is programmed to pair the foods that a specific participant wants to eat more often with approach, and to pair the foods that a specific participant wants to eat less often with avoidance responses.…”

“… 27 59–61 This task has been shown to be a valid tool to measure food approach biases outside the laboratory and to provide relevant information beyond self-report measures. 59 In addition to RTs, it also yields data on the force of the movements, which might contain relevant information not captured by RTs. 61 …”

Effects of Approach–Avoidance Swiping Interactions on the Valence Estimation Using Tablet AAT

“…The mobile AAT provides a more natural and effective assessment of approachavoidance behavior, in terms of pushing and pulling pictures, than a joystick [17,18]. Ikeda [19] examined the approach-avoidance response to three expression types using a tablet device.…”

Novel Techniques to Measure the Sensory, Emotional, and Physiological Responses of Consumers toward Foods

“…Humans, in general, tend to avoid (leaning backwards) the stimuli that they dislike, and they tend to approach (leaning forward) the stimuli that they like when they are doing a sensory test. Brouwer et al [6] evaluated the AAT using a mobile version that consumers can use at their homes using their phones to measure their reactions (AAT and valance ratings) toward pictures of palatable and unpalatable foods. They found that the ATT measurements obtained by this mobile version could complement the rating scores of participants, which can be useful in understanding the intrinsic reactions of consumers.…”