Snack Preferences - Report Example

Group Research Report: Snack Preference Contents Introduction 3 Background 3 Rationale 3 Scope 3 Materials and Methods 4 Materials 4 Method 4 Sample population 4 Data 6 Figure 1 6 Figure 2 6 Figure 3 7 Figure 4 8 Figure 5 8 Major Findings 9 Discussion 10 Preferred desserts 10 Dessert Eating Habits 10 Factors affecting Snack Preferences 11 Conclusion 11 Work Cited 12 Appendix 13 Introduction Background There is a diverse range of snacks sold in different regions. Customer preference to these snacks has always varied either from individual to individual or according to the availability. Some of the common snacks include ice cream, chocolates, cakes, fruits, pancakes, cookies and different types of sweets. There is an evident preference for the different snacks by different people depending on the age and personal taste. It is critical to understand the key factors that contribute to ones preference to a certain snack. For many people, it is preferable to eat snacks while still at home compared to other places (Macbeth 83). Although the preference to snacks has highly increased among college students, many of the people still prefer snacks that are made at home, contrary to the shops that sell ready-made snacks. Rationale This research topic was selected because of the increasing awareness of healthy eating and the benefits it can present. Considering that many consumers have access to an uncontrolled supply of snacks, and the effects they can have on one’s health, it is critical to determine the factors that motivate people towards snacking. It will investigate the factors that affect consumer’s choices of snacks. Moreover, it will seek to predict whether snack preferences are likely to change with age. Scope This research report will focus on highlighting; The snack preferences across different age groups. Factors that affect snack preferences Snack habits, especially the venue and snack habits The reasons explaining different snack choices. Materials and Methods Materials The survey carried relied on the effectiveness of questionnaires in gathering data concerning snack preferences in different people. Method Questionnaires were chosen as the preferred data collection method in the survey carried out by the group. A questionnaire with fourteen different questions as indicated in the appendix was designed for this purpose. The questionnaires were distributed in shopping malls where many consumers usually go shopping. This is because such malls register the highest snacks of snacks. Therefore, interviewing shoppers in the malls increased the likelihood of meeting people who like snacks. Four individuals took the responsibility of distributing the questionnaires with each individual handling ten of them. Sample population The sample population in the survey carried out was selected randomly, although a consideration to age was evident. This consideration ensured that there were individuals from different age groups ranging from children who are under 18 to adults above 51 years. Other demographic factors such as gender, ethnic groups, or social economic statuses were not given any considerations and participants were chosen regardless of such factors. Table 1 age, Number and Proportion of Subjects Age Number Proportion Under 18 13 32.5% 18 to 25 10 25% 26 to 30 7 17.5% 31 to 50 6 15% 51 plus 4 10% Total 40 100% Table 2, Sex of Interviewees Sex Number Proportion Male 18 45% Female 22 55% Total 40 100% Data Figure 1 This figure shows where many people prefer to have their desserts, either at home, cafes, work or school. Figure 2 This figure illustrates the significance of snacks as part of the subject’s nutrition Figure 3 This figure illustrates the subject preference for desserts made at home or bought in shops. Figure 4 This figure illustrates the opinion of the subjects on the potential change of their preferences as they grow older. Figure 5 This figure depicts the frequency with which snacks are consumed. Major Findings It emerged that many people viewed desserts as a significant part of their life because 16 out of 40 equivalent to 40% and an additional 9 out of 40 equivalent to 22.5% highlighted that the significance of snacks was a value higher that 3 on a five point scale. This means that 62.5% were above 3 on the five point scale. All the subjects interviewed consumed desserts over one time in a week. More specifically, only 22.5% consumed once or twice. 55% of the subjects ate desserts three to four times in a week. The remaining 22.5% registered more than 5 times eating desserts in a week. Many subjects preferred to have desserts after dinner. It also emerged that different people had varying preferences when it came to the people they preferred to have dessert with. Some were comfortable having it alone while others preferred the company of family, friends or lovers. Many of the subjects preferred to have desserts made by the self or the family members rather than buying ready-made ones. There were varying tastes for different desserts with chocolate having a 100% preference among the subjects. Notably, many of the subjects preferred to have their desserts at home, although others had desserts in cafes, work or school. A large percentage of the subjects had the conviction that their dessert preferences would change according to age. Many of the subjects had desserts for its taste, for relaxation or for pastime, but others had preferred to have it for health purposes. Spending on snacks ranged from a minimum of $25 to a maximum of $70. Discussion Preferred desserts From the survey, it emerged that there was a higher preference for desserts such as ice cream, chocolate, pancakes, fruits, cakes, macaron, cookies, Asian sweets and others. In the case of ice cream, the cornetto brand was highly preferred. In the case of chocolates, many subjects preferred a medium level of sweetness while a great percentage exhibited preference for chocolate cakes. Artificial sweets were highly preferred for their taste and design (87). These preference rates exhibited by the sample population reveal a lot about the general population. It emerges that the above named desserts are the most popular and many people rely on taste when choosing their preferred desserts. Dessert Eating Habits As figure 1 above highlights, many of the subjects (50%) highlighted that they preferred to eat dessert at home while an additional 30% preferred either work or school. The remaining 20% usually have their desserts in cafes and restaurants. As figure 2 reveals, many of the subjects believed that desserts were significant parts of their lives. An overwhelming 90% indicated that snacks were significant, quite important or very important (128). Only 10% of the interviewed subjects considered snacks less significant or not significant at all. The desserts preferred by many were those made by the self or by family members specifically because they were safer and the cooking and eating process at home served as a factor that enhanced relationships. Only 11% of the subjects interviewed preferred to buy ready-made snacks and their preference was motivated by the taste of such snacks. This snack habit is illustrated in figure 3. The frequency with which the subjects had desserts vary according to individuals, but all of them had snacks more than once in a week (139). A notable 55% had snacks 3 to 4 times every week while 22% had snacks either once or twice in a week. Heavy consumers of snacks had them over 5 times each week as figure 5 illustrates. Factors affecting Snack Preferences Taste is one of the factors that influenced the preference to different desserts as highlighted in the findings. Therefore, individuals preferred snacks that conformed to their personal taste. The safety of the snacks also emerged as a factor, because many of the subjects preferred snacks made at home because of the higher safety level. Age was also a consideration because a higher percentage of the subjects had the conviction that their taste would change as they became older (189). Conclusion As highlighted above, there are varying preferences for snacks in the general population. Personal taste determines the preferred brand or type of dessert chosen. Without doubt, snacks are considered a significant part of nutrition and hence consumed regularly. While many people prefer to eat their snacks at home, an additional percentage eats snacks at cafes, work or school. Different factors are potential contributors to the varying preferences to snacks. In the future, the tastes of the subjects interviewed are likely to be different as they grow older. Work Cited Macbeth, Helen M. Food Preferences and Taste: Continuity and Change. Providence [u.a.: Berghahn Books, 1997. Print. Appendix SNACKS PREFERENCE * This survey is part of the University of NSW Foundation Year Academic English Course Purpose of this survey: *This survey is part of our course of learning. It aims to check up opinions about different snacks genres according to different age groups. This Questionnaire is secret and confidential. They will only be used for the purpose of this survey. 1. Gender : ○ Male ○ Female 2. Age group: ○ under 18 ○ 18 - 25 ○ 26 – 30 ○ 31 – 50 ○ 51+ 3. Does dessert have big significance in your life? (please circle) Not at all Very important 1 2 3 4 5 4. How often do you have dessert a week? ○ less than 1 ○ 1 - 2 ○ 3 - 4 ○ 5 + 5. When do you have dessert? ○ After breakfast ○ After lunch ○ After dinner 6. Who do you mostly have dessert with? (Please number in order of likelihood from 1(=most likely) to 4(=least likely) __ Alone __ Family __ Friends __ Lover 7. Which way do you like to have it? ○ handmade by self or from family ○ buy in the shop why?____________________________________________________________________ 8. What are your favourtie dessert genres? (Please tick one or more options) ○ Ice cream ○ Chocolate ○ Cake ○ Fruit ○ Pancake ○ Macaron ○ Cookie ○ Asian Sweet ○ Other _____________ (please fill in) 9. Where do you most like to have dessert? ○ Cafes / Restaurants ○ At home ○ At work/ school ○ Other _____________(please fill in) 10. (i) If you like Ice Cream, which brand do you always prefer? ○Haagen- Dazs ○Peters ○Cornetto ○Other________ (ii) If you like Chocolate, what level of sweet do you like? ○Slightly ○Medium ○Heavily ○Extra-heavily (iii) If you like Cake, what kind of cake do you prefer? ○Fruit ○Cream ○Chocolates ○Other________ 11. What types of sweet do you like? ○ Artificial why?_______ ○ Natural why?_______ 12. Do you think your dessert preferences change as you get older? ○Yes ○No ○Unsure Reason ___________________________________________________________________ 13. Tick the reason why do you have dessert? ○ For relaxation ○ For pass time ○ For tasted ○ For Health ○ Other_______ 14. How much do you spend on snack on average each week (to the nearest $) $______ Thanks for your time! Read More