Exploring Identifiers of Research Articles Related to Food and Disease Using Artificial Intelligence

Currently hundreds of studies in the literature have shown the link between food and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. This study investigates the use of natural language processing and artificial intelligence techniques in developing a classifier that is able to identify, extract and analyze food-health articles automatically. In particular, this research focusses on automatic identification of health articles pertinent to roles of food in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and cancer as these three chronic diseases account for 60% of deaths (WHO, 2015). Three hundred food-health articles on that topic were analyzed to help identify a unique key (Identifier) for each set of publications. These keys were employed to construct a classifier that is capable of performing online search for identifying and extracting scientific articles in request. The classifier showed promising results to perform automatic analysis of food-health articles which in turn would help food professionals and researchers to carry out efficient literature search and analysis in a timelier fashion

Communication as a Meta-Theory for Judgment and Decision-Making

Within the behavioral sciences, a substantial and influential body of research concerns judgment and decision-making (JDM). In general terms, this field investigates the process of decision-making, with its three core elements: evaluations or estimates of alternatives (judgments), how they are weighed according to personal characteristics (preferences) and integrated to pursue a course of action (choice; Fischhoff & Broomell, 2020). The psychological inquiry into JDM has been dominated by economic theories (mainly expected utility theory, Von Neumann & Morgenstern, 1944), social cognition (particularly dual process theories, e.g., Chaiken, 1980) and ecological approaches (e.g., Gigerenzer & Selten, 2002). Meanwhile, the investigation of communication processes only played a minor role in JDM theorizing, with some notable exceptions (e.g., Hilton, 1995). Spanning several phenomena and experimental paradigms central to JDM research, this thesis uses influential conceptualizations of communication introduced in Chapter 2 for novel theorizing about judgment and decision-making. In Chapter 3, seeing the research procedure as communication suggests that participants expect the researcher to communicate cooperatively and thus give responses corresponding to a classic cognitive illusion, the hindsight bias. Chapter 4 then focuses on competitive uses of communication by subtle means and how they can be used to discourage participants from following a testable, normative mental model for decision-making. Extending beyond the influence of cooperative and competitive pragmatics, Chapter 5 explores how a focus on the structure of the sign system, particularly that concepts may share the same cues, sheds new light on illusory correlations in judgments. In summary, this work furthers a communication perspective within the theoretical landscape of JDM research, in which social cognition, economic theories, and the ecological approach prevail

An embodied approach to informational interventions: using conceptual metaphors to promote sustainable healthy diets

Poor diet quality and environmental degradation are two major challenges of our times. Unhealthy and unsustainable dietary practices, such as the overconsumption of meat and consumer food waste behaviour, contribute greatly to both issues. Across seventeen online and field experiments, in two different cultures (US and China), this thesis investigates if the embodied cognition approach, and more specifically, research on conceptual metaphors, can be used to develop interventions to promote sustainable healthy diets. Interventions relying on conceptual metaphors have been shown to stimulate attitudinal and behavioural changes in other fields (e.g., marketing and political communications), but are rarely adopted to encourage sustainable healthy diets. To fill in this gap in the literature, I conducted five sets of experimental studies examining the effects of different metaphors on specific sustainable healthy dietary practices, each of which forms an independent empirical paper (Chapters 2-6 of the thesis). After introducing the current perspectives on embodied cognition and conceptual metaphors in the context of this research (Chapter 1), Chapter 2 looks into the conceptual metaphor “Healthy is Up”, demonstrating that US people implicitly associate healthiness with verticality, and offering recommendations for healthy eating guidelines. Chapter 3 extends this research to Chinese samples and partially replicates the results. Chapter 4 shows that the anthropomorphic metaphor “Animals are Friends” discourages meat consumption by inducing anticipatory guilt among US omnivores, whereas Chapter 5 reveals that Chinese omnivores are more responsive to another anthropomorphic metaphor, namely, “Animals are Family”. Bringing lab insights 6 to the real world, Chapter 6 demonstrates with a longitudinal field experiment that anthropomorphic metaphors together with environmental feedback result in a higher reduction in food waste as compared to other feedback interventions. The strengths, limitations and implications of those empirical papers are discussed in the conclusive part of the thesis

Knowledge Organization Practices in Everyday Life: Divergent Constructions of Healthy Eating

Background. To “classify” in Library and Information Sciences (LIS) usually involves an engagement with formally established classification systems, such as the Dewey Decimal Classification. In this dissertation I suggest an alternative path for LIS scholars – one that considers the application of LIS theories about classification to the investigation of everyday life “classification” processes and technologies. Focusing on the knowledge domain of food, health, and eating, I consider how food experts and non-experts divide foods into groups according to their health properties and how closely these groups reflect the “classification” of food presented in Canada’s Food Guide. Method. The research design involved two phases. In Phase 1, 30 food-interested participants completed two q methodology exercises and one open card sort involving different foods and their health properties. In Phase 2, 18 Registered Dietitians completed an open card sort exercise and were interviewed about how they respond in their professional practice to people who have “alternative” views about healthy eating. Results. Phase 1 revealed four groups who shared different understandings of “healthy eating”: vegans who do not separate health from animal rights, participants who are committed to idea of balanced health, participants whose idea of health is connected to sharing foods in community setting, and participants who are strongly committed to organic principles. Each group’s methods for sorting foods were clearly influenced by the views of their group’s understanding of healthy eating. Phase 2 revealed that Registered Dietitians were committed to evidence-based, client-centered practice. Discussion. Registered Dietitians are important mediators of health information, but their preference for evidence-based information led several of them to emphasize the “misinformation” that their clients rely upon to make their eating decisions. Lay participants’ perspectives on food and health were reflected in their personal organization of foods but rather than being “misinformed”, their understandings of food and health draw attention to the beliefs that inform their food choices, including values about animal rights, social (community) aspects of eating, and the importance of local, organic food production. This study suggests a need for more research about how expert knowledge is negotiated in everyday life, including everyday organizational practices

Compensatory Eating After Exercise

Eating unhealthy foods (or larger amounts of food) after exercise may be one factor contributing to unsuccessful weight loss. Further, this pattern of “compensatory” eating is likely to be associated with adverse health effects. Psychological factors are implicated in compensatory eating beyond physiological factors alone, but the existing research has been dominated by short-term studies lacking in ecological validity. As a result, relatively little is known about how frequently people engage in compensatory eating or why it occurs. The program of research described in this thesis used a variety of methods to broaden current understanding of post-exercise eating behaviour. An experimental study that improved upon methodological limitations of previous work found limited evidence of post-exercise compensatory eating in the laboratory (Chapter II). The next phase involved a novel approach to understanding reasons for compensatory intake with the development of a scale to measure reasons for compensatory unhealthy eating (Chapter III). Four distinct reasons were identified that were validated across three samples and had good scale properties. The final component of the research program used daily diary methods to investigate the frequency of compensatory eating in everyday life over an extended period of time (Chapters IV and V). These studies found that participants consumed relatively larger portions of relatively healthier foods after exercising (compared to meals eaten on non-exercise days). Although most people did not show compensatory eating, there was evidence of considerable individual variability in patterns of post-exercise eating such that some people did tend to eat unhealthily after exercise. Together, the current studies make a significant contribution to understanding the frequency of compensatory eating, as well as individual differences in eating patterns and reasons for unhealthy post-exercise eating. These findings have implications for designing interventions for those who display unhealthy post-exercise eating habits. Further, this work highlights the value of complementary methodological approaches to examining contingencies between health behaviours

A study to explore smellscape: from understanding and interpretation to evaluation and design in urban intermodal transit spaces in UK and China

This study aims to generate a systematic approach to exploring smellscape, from understanding and interpretation to evaluation and design in a specific type of public space - urban intermodal transit spaces, that large numbers of people visit every day, and which have intensive traffic flows and various functions. Taken Grounded Theory as a methodological approach, this study took one typical case from each country, Wuchang Railway Transit Centre and Sheffield Railway Station and Bus Interchange, to explore smellscapes in intermodal transit spaces in China and UK. An analytic procedure has been generated from the studied cases explaining people’s perception of smell environments through key elements in the concept, influenced by eleven perceptual patterns. This analysis answers the question of how to understand and interpret smellscape. In terms of people’s assessment of the pleasantness of smellscape, nine indicators were identified, which have been developed into a framework for measuring smellscape quality and classifying different types of smellscapes. The most dominant type of pleasantness in urban intermodal transit spaces is mainly influenced by cleanness and freshness. The perceptual process and evaluation criteria help with understanding and analysing existing smellscapes, and also inform the design objective for achieving a pleasant smellscape in target spaces. In terms of designing a pleasant smellscape in the target context, a design framework has been constructed at three scales with design methods and examples, responding to identified components from smells and smell sources, individual differences, physical environmental settings and contextual issues. This also gives an example of integrating smellscape design into a traditional design framework for a specified functional public space at the macro, midi and micro levels

Embodied Location Effects: Affecting Consumer Product Attributions Through Location-concept Associations

A large number of marketing decisions (e.g., where to place products on a shelf; where to place information on product packages or within advertisements; how to organize product listings on online shopping sites) involve choices related to location. However, because particular locations can convey symbolic and conceptual meanings (e.g., “up” implies power), in order to choose the best location, marketers must understand what meaning is being communicated through a placement. Drawing on embodied cognition theory, which suggests that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are shaped through our interactions with the surrounding world and grounded in sensorimotor systems, this dissertation explores conceptual associations with various locations, identifying a new location-concept association (up and chronological newness) and providing insight into how marketers can utilize location effects to better promote product attributes and improve consumer well-being. Specifically, Essay 1 explores how marketers can use location-number associations to most effectively communicate nutrition information on food packages. Drawing on the number-location association literature (i.e., small numbers-left, large numbers-right), three experimental studies show that consumers estimate a higher nutrient content when nutrition claims are placed on the right (vs. left) side of the package, which has a subsequent impact on perceived healthfulness of the product. Also, Essay 1 examined the moderating role of product-nutrient associations and nutrient type (negative vs. positive). Essay 2 examines how marketers can use shelf location combined with a conceptual metaphor between verticality and power to increase consumers’ beliefs about green products’ effectiveness and consequent purchase. Findings from three experimental studies show that placing green products on a higher (vs. lower) shelf can improve perceived product effectiveness, which in turn increases purchase intention of the target product. Essay 2 also discusses the role of choice criteria (choosing strong and powerful products vs. mild and gentle products) as a moderator. Finally, Essay 3 identifies a hitherto unexplored conceptual association between up and chronological newness and demonstrates how marketers can utilize this association to better market products. Six studies find support for this association that consumers conceptually associate the chronological newness construct with up and that consumers use this association to infer newness-related information such as product novelty, newspaper credibility, and food freshness. Together, this dissertation contributes theoretically to the understanding of embodied cognition, particularly location-concept associations, in the marketing domain. Additionally, this dissertation provides managerial and public policy implications

Project-based language learning. A planning proposal for Secondary Education

This paper addresses the implementation of project-based learning in the English as a Foreign Language classroom in Compulsory Secondary Education. From a theoretical point of view, the content is structured around the concept of project-based learning, its characteristics, its most relevant implications in the classroom, exemplifications and key aspects to plan a project. All these elements conform to current European policies and the foreign language teaching/learning process. From a methodological point of view, a teaching proposal is presented, designed to be implemented in Year 1 of Secondary Education. A series of contextual aspects, a description of the target group and a well-supported decision-making process precede the proposal, which is composed of seven sessions. In the last part of the paper, certain conclusions are displayed in order to point out the value of project-based learning in English language acquisition, along with a list of guidelines to direct its implementation in the classroom.Este Trabajo Fin de Máster aborda el aprendizaje por proyectos en el aula de Inglés Lengua Extranjera en Educación Secundaria Obligatoria. Desde la perspectiva teórica, se articulan los contenidos en torno al concepto y características del aprendizaje por proyectos, sus implicaciones más relevantes para el aula, ejemplificaciones y aspectos clave para su planificación. Todo ello en función de las políticas europeas y del proceso de aprendizaje y adquisición de lenguas extranjeras. Desde la perspectiva metodológica, se presenta una propuesta didáctica susceptible de implementarse en un aula de Inglés Lengua Extranjera de primer curso de Educación Secundaria. Temporalizada en siete sesiones, la preceden aspectos contextuales, características del grupo y una toma de decisiones fundamentada. En la última parte se recogen conclusiones dirigidas a la puesta en valor del aprendizaje por proyectos para rentabilizar la adquisición de la lengua inglesa, junto con una serie de pautas didácticas para orientar su implementación en el aula.Departamento de Didáctica de la Lengua y LiteraturaMáster en Profesor de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria y Bachillerato, Formación Profesional y Enseñanzas de Idioma