title: Use of the think aloud method to examine fruit and vegetable purchasing behaviors among low-income African American women.
abstract: The purpose of this report is to describe the development and implementation of the think aloud method in relation to fruit and vegetable purchasing behaviors of low-income African American mothers. Women (n = 70) were audiotaped as they thought aloud while selecting fruits and vegetables during a routine shopping trip. Audiotapes were transcribed, text was coded, and coded text was sorted using a database software program. Data were analyzed using content analysis procedures. The method was found to be useful in its ability to provide verbalization data for the majority of the women in the sample that reflected a typical shopping experience, were not excessively affected by the presence of the investigator, and captured information processing in relation to salient factors that influenced food purchasing decisions. Because a few women indicated that the method itself may have influenced behavior, future research is needed to test the reactivity of the think aloud method and its relationship to final choice of products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Work, Family and Community Education, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA. mreicks@umn.edu
authors.forename: Marla
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reicks
authors.forename: Chery
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reimer
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atwell
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003132:Commerce; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000208:ethnology*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011203:Poverty; D013637:Tape Recording; D014481:United States; D014675:Vegetables