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Hutchings SC, Dixit Y, Al-Sarayreh M, Torrico DD, Realini CE, Jaeger SR, Reis MM. A critical review of social media research in sensory-consumer science. Food Res Int 2023; 165:112494. [PMID: 36869504 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The collection and analysis of digital data from social media is a rapidly growing methodology in sensory-consumer science, with a wide range of applications for research studying consumer attitudes, preferences, and sensory responses to food. The aim of this review article was to critically evaluate the potential of social media research in sensory-consumer science with a focus on advantages and disadvantages. This review began with an exploration into different sources of social media data and the process by which data from social media is collected, cleaned, and analyzed through natural language processing for sensory-consumer research. It then investigated in detail the differences between social media-based and conventional methodologies, in terms of context, sources of bias, the size of data sets, measurement differences, and ethics. Findings showed participant biases are more difficult to control using social media approaches, and precision is inferior to conventional methods. However, findings also showed social media methodologies may have other advantages including an increased ability to investigate trends over time and easier access to cross-cultural or global insights. Greater research in this space will identify when social media can best function as an alternative to conventional methods, and/or provide valuable complementary information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott C Hutchings
- AgResearch Limited, Te Ohu Rangahau Kai, Massey University Campus, Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand.
| | - Yash Dixit
- AgResearch Limited, Te Ohu Rangahau Kai, Massey University Campus, Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand
| | - Mahmoud Al-Sarayreh
- AgResearch Limited, Te Ohu Rangahau Kai, Massey University Campus, Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand; Department of Computer Engineering, German Jordanian University, Amman 11180, Jordan
| | - Damir D Torrico
- Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
| | - Carolina E Realini
- AgResearch Limited, Te Ohu Rangahau Kai, Massey University Campus, Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand
| | - Sara R Jaeger
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Mt Albert Research Centre, Private Bag 92169, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Marlon M Reis
- AgResearch Limited, Te Ohu Rangahau Kai, Massey University Campus, Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand
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