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Knowledge and Perception of Organic Foods in College Students with Varying Demographics

Katirji, Sarah
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6771-5487
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1492129139206293

Abstract Details

2017, MS, Kent State University, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Health Sciences.
Currently, there is limited research that investigates organic food trends in college students. Little is known about knowledge, perception, purchasing behaviors, and potential barriers of organic food in students. The purpose of this descriptive, posttest only, multi-factorial design study was to measure knowledge and perception of organic food buyers vs. organic food non-buyers in Northeast Ohio college students with varying demographics (N = 1490). An anonymous 52-question electronic survey was distributed to 21,089 students to recruit participants for the study via e-mail. The survey consisted of four sections in the following order: socio-demographic characteristics, purchasing, knowledge, and perception. This study examined gender, major, and place of residence with respect to organic food buyers and organic food non-buyers among university students. Participants for this study were at least 18 years of age and were enrolled full-time at the university’s main campus. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, three-way factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square, and paired t-tests. An alpha level of 0.05 was set to determine if statistical significance was present in the data. Results of this study indicate that students have a higher perception of organic food than conventional food with respect to being better for the environment, more humane, tastes better, is safe to consume, and that they provide additional health benefits. Conventional food is perceived as being more affordable and having a longer shelf life than organic food. Females, non-science majors, and organic food buyers have a higher perception of organic food than males, science majors, and organic food non-buyers. Findings indicate that consumers purchase organic food based on perceived benefit. Results also revealed that place of residence does not influence whether college students purchase or do not purchase organic food. With respect to knowledge, gender and buyer type do not influence knowledge of organic food among college students. Significance was seen in major type and organic knowledge interactions. Findings indicate that students with a non-science major have a higher perception and a lower knowledge of organic food than students with a science major. Additionally, students with a science major have a lower perception and a higher knowledge of organic food than students with a non-science major. Results of this study indicate that, among science majors, organic food buyers have a lower knowledge of organic food than organic food non-buyers.
Natalie Caine-Bish (Committee Chair)
Barbara Scheule (Committee Member)
Jamie Matthews (Committee Member)
133 p.
Nutrition
organic food, college students, organic food knowledge, organic food perception, organic food in college students, organic food buyer, organic food non-buyer, organic food buyer demographics

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Katirji, S. (2017). Knowledge and Perception of Organic Foods in College Students with Varying Demographics [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1492129139206293

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Katirji, Sarah. Knowledge and Perception of Organic Foods in College Students with Varying Demographics. 2017. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1492129139206293.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Katirji, Sarah. "Knowledge and Perception of Organic Foods in College Students with Varying Demographics." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1492129139206293

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1492129139206293
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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.