The Phrase that Plays: The Most Effective Way to Entice

College-age Students to Engage in Nutrition Booth Activities

T. Palm, Undergraduate Nutrition Major, Rutgers University, W. Cornelius, Undergraduate Nutrition Major, Rutgers University; P. Policastro, M.S., R.D.,
Nutrition Specialist, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University

ABSTRACT
Nutrition educators are often challenged with encouraging
passersby to engage in onsite nutrition education activities. The
purpose of this study was to determine which phrase used by our
research team was the most effective in getting college-age
students to engage in nutrition activities. Trained researchers
applied three manipulation phrases as well as a baseline of no
phrase to college students in university dining facilities. Each
manipulation (Would you like to play a nutrition game?,
Would you like to win a prize?, and Would you like to learn
about nutrition?) was implemented for a half hour with the order
of implementation randomized. Students who participated in
nutrition education activities after being presented a specific
phrase were measured as a successful attempt (n=215), while
students that declined participation were measured as an
unsuccessful attempt (n=1,262). Of total successes, the prizefocused approach was most successful at 18.27%, followed by
the game-focused approach at 14.10% and the informationfocused approach at 12.07%. Each phrase was more successful
than baseline. ANOVA testing showed statistical significance
(p=.001) for the prize-focused approach when compared to all
other phrases. Results of this study indicate college-aged students
are more inclined to participate in a nutrition education activity
when presented with the opportunity to win a prize. By utilizing a
prize-focused approach, educators in a college setting can
maximize participation to strengthen overall nutrition outreach to
students. Further research is needed to determine what kinds of
prizes would be most effective in encouraging college-age
students to engage in nutrition education activities.

METHODS
Participants: A random sample of college-age students (n=1,477) ranging from
ages 17-23 of various race and ethnic backgrounds .
Data Collection: Trained researchers kept a tally of students that engaged or did
not engage in booth activities during baseline or after they were presented with a
particular phrase (Figure 1). Data was collected at five two-hour booths at
different dining locations on campus. Each manipulation was presented in half
hour increments in a randomized order during each booth.
Analysis: The data collected was analyzed using ANOVA t-testing, as well as
cross-tabs in SPSS (1999, SPSS Inc., Chicago IL). The Institutional Review Board
of Rutgers University approved this study.

Would you like

to play a
nutrition game?

Would you
like to win a
prize?

RESULTS
The prize-focused phrase was the most successful in having students
participate in nutrition education activities (18.27%) followed by the
nutrition game-focused phrase (14.10%) and nutrition education-focused
phrase (12.07%). (Table 1)
Each phrase proved to be considerably more effective then baseline
manipulation (<1%), consisting of no communication with passing students.
(Table 1)
Compared to all other phrases, ANOVA testing showed statistical
significance (p=.001) for the prize-focused approach.
Success of Manipulation Phrases
20%
18%

18.27%

16%

14.10%

14%

12.07%

12%
10%

Would you like

to learn about
nutrition?
Figure 1: Phrases applied at onsite nutrition activity

8%
6%
4%
2%
0%

0.05%

"

"

"

"

"

" Baseline Intervention

Table 1: Comparison table of the success of each phrase

INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION

Background: Interactive onsite nutrition education activities are

a popular method of teaching college-age students about making
healthy choices. Limited research has been done on how to
effectively entice students to participate. Using a particular
phrase may increase the amount of student participation.

Conclusion:
The study found that a prize-focused phrase was the most
effective in encouraging college-age students to participate
in nutrition education activities.
Supporting Ideas:
While the prize-focused approach proved to be the most
effective, we found that any active communication with the
students will result in more participation.
Recommendations:
Further research should explore what prizes specifically
would be the most effective in garnering participation.
Future research should also consider peak traffic times as
well as the location of nutrition education activities which
may have impacted our results.

Research Question: Which is the most effective phrase to entice

a college student to participate in nutrition education activities?

Figure 2: RU Healthy Dining Team member with booth materials