CDAE: Community Development and Applied Economics at UVM

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY Center for Community Development and Applied Economics USDA Funded Obesity Grant

Project Summary: This research effort will help garner information on the impact of food labeling on food purchases in the general population, along with particular influences on the purchasing behavior of younger consumers.

Project Implementation: This study will monitor the daily food purchases of 200 students at on-campus dining facilities. Half of the selected students will serve as the experimental group (Group A); the other half, the control (Group B). Each group will be randomly assigned. Before the start of the experiment, a web-based survey will be administered to determine students’ existing nutritional knowledge. This survey will also include questions that quantify the number of calories that students expend in sports, leisure, and recreational activities. Lastly, height and weight information will be collected from student records. This information will be collected in fall 2005.

During spring 2006 and several times during fall 2006, students in each group will receive instructions to attend the Cook Commons Dining facility on testing days. All purchases will be paid at a separate register, staffed by research assistants who will record the foods chosen by each student. The experimental periods are divided into 3 week sections to match Sodexho’s menu cycle and to ensure that students have the same food rotation in each period. A nutrition extension specialist will provide Group A participants with an hour long nutrition workshop to help them acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes to help develop nutritionally sound eating patterns.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern(s) will be responsible for supporting the work of the Program Manager. In particular, this effort will include assisting in a myriad of activities, such as:

  • Designing brochures, fliers, and pamphlets describing the project for use in recruiting research subjects;
  • Assisting in gathering research data, including health information on research subjects;
  • Distributing project information to student participants, including overseeing various mailings;
  • Assisting in recruiting subjects, including staffing a table at various recruitment efforts.

    • Timeline: Internships are available over the summer months (May-August) and during Fall 2005 semester. Interns receive course credit. Summer interns will be awarded credit for the Fall 2005 semester.
    The Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, 205 Morrill Hall, University of Vermont, 05405
    Phone: 802.656.1013 Fax: 802.656.1423 Email: cdae@uvm.edu.
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