Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain

This study examined behaviour towards genetically modified (GM) food in a British community-based sample. We used an equivalent gain task in which participants actually received the options they chose to encourage truthful responding. In conjunction with this, theory of planned behaviour (TPB) compo...

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Main Authors: Spence, Alexa, Townsend, Ellen
Format: Article
Published: Blackwell-Synergy 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2247/
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author Spence, Alexa
Townsend, Ellen
author_facet Spence, Alexa
Townsend, Ellen
author_sort Spence, Alexa
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description This study examined behaviour towards genetically modified (GM) food in a British community-based sample. We used an equivalent gain task in which participants actually received the options they chose to encourage truthful responding. In conjunction with this, theory of planned behaviour (TPB) components were evaluated so as to examine the relative importance of behavioural influences in this domain. Here the TPB was extended to include additional components to measure self-identity, moral norms and emotional involvement. Results indicated that the monetary amounts participants accepted in preference to GM food were significantly lower than those accepted in preference to non-GM food. However, the vast majority of participants were indifferent between GM and non-GM food options. All TPB components significantly predicted behavioural intentions to try GM food, with attitudes towards GM being the strongest predictor. Self-identity and emotional involvement were also found to be significant predictors of behavioural intentions but moral norms were not. In addition, behavioural intentions significantly predicted behaviour, however, PBC did not. An additional measure of participants’ propensity to respond in a socially desirable manner indicated that our results were not influenced by self presentation issues giving confidence to our findings. Overall, it appears that the majority of participants (74.5%) would purchase GM food at some price.
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spelling nottingham-22472020-05-04T20:30:17Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2247/ Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain Spence, Alexa Townsend, Ellen This study examined behaviour towards genetically modified (GM) food in a British community-based sample. We used an equivalent gain task in which participants actually received the options they chose to encourage truthful responding. In conjunction with this, theory of planned behaviour (TPB) components were evaluated so as to examine the relative importance of behavioural influences in this domain. Here the TPB was extended to include additional components to measure self-identity, moral norms and emotional involvement. Results indicated that the monetary amounts participants accepted in preference to GM food were significantly lower than those accepted in preference to non-GM food. However, the vast majority of participants were indifferent between GM and non-GM food options. All TPB components significantly predicted behavioural intentions to try GM food, with attitudes towards GM being the strongest predictor. Self-identity and emotional involvement were also found to be significant predictors of behavioural intentions but moral norms were not. In addition, behavioural intentions significantly predicted behaviour, however, PBC did not. An additional measure of participants’ propensity to respond in a socially desirable manner indicated that our results were not influenced by self presentation issues giving confidence to our findings. Overall, it appears that the majority of participants (74.5%) would purchase GM food at some price. Blackwell-Synergy 2006 Article PeerReviewed Spence, Alexa and Townsend, Ellen (2006) Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain. Risk Analysis, 26 (3). pp. 657-670. ISSN 1539-6924 Behavior; contingent valuation task; GM foods; intentions; theory of planned behavior; behaviour http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00777.x/abstract doi:10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00777.x doi:10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00777.x
spellingShingle Behavior; contingent valuation task; GM foods; intentions; theory of planned behavior; behaviour
Spence, Alexa
Townsend, Ellen
Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain
title Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain
title_full Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain
title_fullStr Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain
title_full_unstemmed Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain
title_short Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain
title_sort examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (gm) food in britain
topic Behavior; contingent valuation task; GM foods; intentions; theory of planned behavior; behaviour
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2247/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2247/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2247/