— RESEARCH —
My research program focuses on applying behavioral and experimental economics to better understand consumer decision-making. The primary goal of my research is to produce knowledge concerning contemporary issues at the nexus of consumption and production. Researching these topics allows me to provide timely information to stakeholders about current and future challenges.
I am currently working on several funded projects:
Large-scale Multi-Modality Learning System to Identify Tobacco Addiction and Predictive Analytics via Social Media Platforms
o Multidisciplinary grant funded by NSF - $1 million
Evaluating Consumer and Industry Perceptions of Rice-Based Beverages
o Multidisciplinary grant internally funded - $30,000
Market Assessment for Local and Organic Specialty Crops in Arkansas and Regional Markets
o Multidisciplinary grant funded by USDA - $57,000
Understanding Nutrition through Machine Vision
o Multidisciplinary grant funded by USDA - $600,000
Investigating Market Opportunities for Novel Hemp-Based Products
o Multi-institutional/Multidisciplinary grant funded by USDA - $313,591
o Partners: University of Arkansas, University of Guelph, University of Kentucky, University of Vermont
Sustainable Aquaculture Production of High Omega-3-Containing-Fish Using a Novel Feed Additive (Hemp)
o Multi-institutional/Multidisciplinary grant funded by USDA - $10 million
o Partners: Central State University, College of Menominee Nation, Kentucky State University, Mississippi State University, University of Arkansas, University of Kentucky
Previous funded projects:
Improving Crop Residue Burning and Management Recommendations in the Arkansas Delta Region
o Multi-institutional/Multidisciplinary grant funded by USDA - $571,940
o Partners: Arkansas State University, University of Arkansas, Miami University, UA Division of Agriculture, University of Delaware
Pulse Electricity: A Non-Chemical Approach for the Management of Nematodes, Pathogens, and Weeds in Nurseries
o Multi-institutional/Multidisciplinary grant funded by USDA - $442,068
o Partners: Agricultural Research Service, Oregon State University, University of Arkansas
Hemp Marketing: Measuring Stated Demand and Preferences in an Emerging Market
o Multi-institutional grant funded by USDA - $248,686
o Partners: Auburn University, University of Arkansas, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky
Determining Antecedents to Consumer Acceptance of Scientific Information to Develop Educational Approaches on Gene-Editing Technologies
o Multi-institutional/Multidisciplinary grant funded by USDA - $464,766
o Partners: The Ohio State University, University of Arkansas, University of Florida
Below is a list of my peer-reviewed publications with links:
2026
Consumer Acceptance of Gene-Edited Non-Browning Bananas to Reduce Food Waste
Discover Food
with Alexandra Pittman, Nathan Kemper, Alvaro Durand-Morat, Lawton Lanier Nalley, and Shelby Rider
2025
Characteristics and Food Consumption for Current, Previous, and Potential Consumers of GLP-1s
Food Quality and Preference
with Andrew Dilley, Saroj Adhikari, Pratikshya Silwal, and Jayson L. Lusk
Consumer Preferences for Low-Methane Beef: The Impact of Pre-Purchase Information, Point-of-Purchase Labels, and Increasing Prices
Food Policy
with Kelly A. Davidson, Sarah Meyer, and John C. Bernard
Bridging Taste and Health: The Role of Machine Learning in Consumer Food Selection
International Food and Agribusiness Management Review
with Saroj Adhikari
Plant-Based versus Animal-Based Proteins: Does It Have to Be Either/Or?
Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics
with Saroj Adhikari, Trey Malone, and Jayson L. Lusk
Assessing Public Opinion about Controversial Risks: The Effects of Allowing an Escape Hatch on Internal Consistency and Validity
Journal of Risk Research
with Jayson L. Lusk, Caroline May, Emily Schlichtig
Consumer Perceptions of Hemp-Fed Aquaculture
Aquaculture Economics & Management
with Jillian Hyink, Saroj Adhikari, Brandy E. Phipps, Tyler Mark, Waldemar Rossi, Craig Schluttenhofer, and Seong D. Yun
Consumer Confusion About Product Names Commonly Used to Describe Hemp‐Based Oils
Journal of Consumer Affairs
with Kawsheha Muraleetharan, Benjamin Campbell, Adam Rabinowitz, Tyler Mark, and Michael Popp
Consumer Preferences for Value-Added Foods from Black-Owned Food Companies
Choices
with Logan G. Moss, Saroj Adhikari, Jacquelyn Wiersma-Mosley, L. Lanier Nalley, and Norbert L.W. Wilson
The Effects of Class-Action Lawsuits on California Glyphosate Usage
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics
with Macy Rosselle, K. Aleks Schaefer, and Hannah Shear
From Deficiency to Demand: Consumer Preferences for Zinc-Biofortified Rice in Colombia
Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
with Sara Oswalt, Alvaro Durand-Morat, Tatiana Rivera, Sonia Gallego, Robert Andrade, and Michelle Bonatti
Required Informational Barriers to Accessing Groceries from Food Banks
Food Security
with Alexis Millerschultz, Lawton Lanier Nalley, Rodolfo Nayga, and Wei Yang
Crop Acreage Portfolio Analysis of Introducing More Hemp in Kentucky
Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment
with Yunsun Park, Seong D Yun, Tyler Mark, Brandy E Phipps, and Craig Schluttenhofer
Racial Differences in Knowledge, Attitudes Towards Vaccination, and Risk Practices Around Lyme Disease in the United States
Frontiers in Public Health
with Madiha Shafquat, Niyati Patel, James H. Stark, and L. Hannah Gould
A review of successful workplace interventions to mitigate work-related musculoskeletal disorders in poultry processing plant workers: current knowledge and future prospects
Safety and Health at Work
with Philip G Crandall, Corliss A O’Bryan, Dongyi Wang, Tomi Obe, Jenny Houlroyd, Trey Sawyers, and Yihong Feng
2024
“Knowledge Gaps about Micronutrient Deficiencies in Tanzania and the Effect of Information Interventions.”
Global Food Security
with Pius Kilasy, Kelly Davidson, and Leah Palm-Forster
“Potential Response of Mexican Consumers to a Ban on Genetically Modified Maize Imports.”
Food Security
with Lawton Nalley, Alvaro Durand-Morat, Wei Yang, and Katie Loethen
“Food Labeling: Ingredient Exemptions and Product Claims.”
Agricultural and Resource Economics Review
with Elena Krasovskaia, Bradley Rickard, Brenna Ellison, and Norbert Wilson
“Potential Consumer Response to the Healthy Symbol Proposed by the US Food and Drug Administration.”
Heliyon
with Jillian Hyink and Brenna Ellison
“Lumpy Heterogeneity in Groundwater Service Values and Time Preferences.”
Land Economics
with Kent Kovacs, Heather Snell, and Rodolfo Nayga
“Intention to Vaccinate for Lyme Disease Using the Health Belief Model.”
Zoonoses and Public Health
with James Stark, Niyati Patel, Patrick Kelly, Hannah Gould, and Jason Riis
“Could Measuring Factors Other than a Lack of Financial Resources Help in Achieving the Zero Hunger Goal?”
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
with Jillian Hyink, Brandy Phipps, and Craig Gundersen
“US Public Opinion about the Safety of Gene Editing in the Agriculture and Medical Fields and the Amount of Evidence Needed to Improve Opinions.”
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
with Joy Rumble, Kathryn Stofer, and Kevin Folta
“Using the Health Belief Model to Understand Intention to Vaccinate for Lyme Disease in the United States.”
Zoonoses and Public Health
with Hannah Gould, James Stark, Niyati Patel, Patrick Kelly, and Jason Riis
“Agricultural Producer and Non-Producer Perceptions of Crop Residue Burning: A Focus on Arkansas.”
Discover Sustainability
with Jillian Hyink, Ryan Bresnahan, Aaron Shew, and James Mitchell
“CBD Oil Concentration and Hemp Flower Drying Preferences of US Consumers.”
Research on World Agricultural Economy
with Benjamin Jacobs, Michael Popp, Sunjin Ahn, Wim Verbeke, Tyler Mark, Adam Rabinowitz, and Benjamin Campbell
2023
“US Adult Attitudes about Biotechnology and Risk Aversion to Gene Editing.”
AgBioForum
with Joy Rumble, Kathryn Stofer, Kevin Folta, and Madison Dyment
”A Randomized Group Approach to Identifying Label Effects.”
Journal of Choice Modelling
with Jayson Lusk, Adam Pollack, Joy Rumble, Kathryn Stofer, and Kevin Folta
“Association Between Visual Attention to Nutrition Priming and Subsequent Beverage Choice.”
Food Quality and Preference
with Zachary Neuhofer, Alicia Rihn, Xuan Wei, and Hayk Khachatryan
US Adult Viewers of Information Treatments Express Overall Positive Views but Some Concerns about Gene Editing Technology.”
Journal of Science Communication
with Kathryn Stofer, Savanna Turner, Joy Rumble, Kevin Folta, Adithi Jeevan, Tracy Uncap, Kristen Hecht, Cierra Cummins, and Robert Thiel
“Choice Effects Associated with Banning the Word “Meat” on Alternative Protein Labels.”
Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy
with Benjamin DeMuth, Trey Malone, and Christopher Wolf
2022
“Standards of Identity and Imitation Milk Labeling.”
Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association
“CBD and THC: Who Buys It, and Why?”
Journal of Food Distribution Research
with Aaron Staples and Trey Malone
“Peer Feedback can Decrease Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Food: Evidence from a Field Experiment.”
Appetite
with Melissa Langer, Kelly Davidson, and Kent Messer
“Implicit and Explicit Biases for Recycled Water and Tap Water.”
Water Resources Research
with Daniel Bass, Marco Costanigro, and Kent Messer
“Private Costs of Carbon Emissions Abatement by Limiting Beef Consumption and Vehicle Use in the United States.”
PLOS ONE
with Kent Messer and Paul Ferraro
“Impact of Teaching Methods on Learner Preferences and Knowledge Gained When Informing Adults About Gene Editing.”
Advancements in Agricultural Development
with Robert Thiel, Joy Rumble, Kathryn Stofer, and Kevin Folta
2021
“A Case for Measuring Negative Willingness to Pay for Consumer Goods.”
Food Policy
with Daniel Bass and Kent Messer
“Gene Editing isn’t Just about Food: Comments from US Focus Groups.”
GM Crops & Food
with Joy Rumble, Kathryn Stofer, Kevin Folta, Savanna Turner, and Adam Pollack
“Homegrown Perceptions about the Medical Use and Potential Abuse of CBD and THC.”
Addictive Behaviors
with Trey Malone
“Paying People to Take the Vaccine - Would it Help or Backfire?”
Boston Univ. School of Law, Law and Economics Research Paper
with Christopher Robertson, Daniel Scheitrum, Aleks Schaefer, Trey Malone, Paul Ferraro, and Kent Messer
“COVID‐19 Induced Stigma in U.S. Consumers: Evidence and Implications.”
American Journal of Agricultural Economics
with Trey Malone, Maik Kecinski, and Kent Messer
“The Effect of Scientific Information and Narrative on Preferences for Possible Gene‐Edited Solutions for Citrus Greening.”
Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy
with Brittany Anderton, Kelly Davidson, and John Bernard
“Consumers’ Decisions to Access or Avoid Added Sugars Information on the Updated Nutrition Facts Label.”
PLOS ONE
with Elizabeth Kim, Brenna Ellison, and Melissa Prescott
“What are the Overall Implications of Rising Demand for Organic Fruits and Vegetables? Evidence from Theory and Simulations.”
Q Open
with John Bovay and Conner Mullally
“The Influence of Choice Context on Consumers’ Preference for GM Orange Juice.”
Journal of Agricultural Economics
with Yang Hu, Lisa House, and Zhifeng Gao
“Consumer Food Buying during a Recession.”
Choices
with Jayson Lusk
2020
“Can the Updated Nutrition Facts Label Decrease Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption?”
Economics & Human Biology
with Zachary Neuhofer, Alicia Rihn, Xuan Wei, Hayk Khachatryan, and Lisa House
“Examining Food Purchase Behavior and Food Values During the COVID‐19 Pandemic.”
Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy
with Brenna Ellison, Brad Rickard, and Norbert Wilson
“Beverage milk consumption patterns in the United States: Who is substituting from dairy to plant-based beverages?”
Journal of Dairy Science
with Christopher Wolf, and Trey Malone
“Environmental and Regulatory Concerns During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from the Pandemic Food and Stigma Survey.”
Environmental and Resource Economics
with Maik Kecinski, Kent Messer, and Trey Malone
“The Influence of Choice Context on Consumers’ Preference for GM Orange Juice.”
Journal of Agricultural Economics
with Yang Hu, Lisa House, and Zhifeng Gao
“Revealed Preference Reversal in Consumer Preference for Sustainable Food Products.”
Food Quality and Preference
with Xuqi Chen and Zhifeng Gao
“Floridians’ Propensity to Support Ad Valorem Water Billing Increases to Protect Water Supply: A Panel Evaluation.”
Hydrological Sciences Journal
with Brandon McKee, Alexa Lamm, and Laura Warner
2019
“Perceptions of Genetically Engineered Technology in Developed Areas.”
Trends in Biotechnology
with Stuart Smyth
“Consumer Preferences for Beef with Improved Nutrient Profile.”
Journal of Animal Science
with Sarah Flowers, Chad Carr, and Raluca Mateescu
“The Interaction between Country of Origin and Genetically Modified Orange Juice in Urban China.”
Food Quality and Preference
with Zhifeng Gao, Xiaohua Yu, and Chenguang Li
“A Review of Nutrition Labeling and Food Choice in the United States."
Obesity Science & Practice
with Alice Dumoitier, Vincent Abbo, and Zachary Neuhofer
2018
“Do Consumers Care How a Genetically Engineered Food was Created or Who Created It?”
Food Policy
with Jayson Lusk and Norbert Wilson
“How Will Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Modified Food Nudge Consumer Decision-Making?”
Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics
with Trey Malone
“Consumer Risk Perception of Vitamin A Deficiency and Acceptance of Biofortified Rice in the Morogoro Region of Tanzania.”
African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics
with Emmanuel Domonko, Fulgence Mishili, Conner Mullally, and Derek Farnsworth
“Engaging Consumers about the Nuances of Agricultural Technologies.”
Journal of Food and Distribution Research
“Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendations Based on Plant Sensing and Bayesian Updating.”
Precision Agriculture
with Wade Brorsen and William Raun
2017
“Consumer Acceptance of Food Biotechnology based on Policy Context and Upstream Acceptance.”
European Review of Agricultural Economics
with Ashkan Pakseresht and Carl Johan Lagerkvist
“Effects of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard: Willingness to Pay for Labels that Communicate the Presence or Absence of Genetic Modification.”
Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy
with Jayson Lusk
“The Unknowns and Possible Implications of Mandatory Labeling.”
Trends in Biotechnology
“Impact of Food Choice on Sodium Intake Patterns from Multiple NHANES Surveys.”
Appetite
with Zefeng Dong and Zhifeng Gao
2016
“Neural Activations Associated with Decision-Time and Choice in a Milk Labeling Experiment.”
American Journal of Agricultural Economics
with John Crespi, Jayson Lusk, Bradley Cherry, Laura Martini, and Amanda Bruce
“What Consumers Don't Know about GM Food and How that Affects Beliefs.”
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal
with Jayson Lusk
“Neural Antecedents of a Random Utility Model.”
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization
with Jayson Lusk, John Crespi, Bradley Cherry, Laura Martin, and Amanda Bruce
“Another Perspective on Understanding Food Democracy.”
Choices
with Sprio Stefanou
2015
“Cognitive Biases in the Assimilation of Scientific Information on Global Warming and Genetically Modified Food.”
Food Policy
with Jayson Lusk
“Which Biotech Foods are Most Acceptable to the Public?”
Biotechnology Journal
with Jayson Lusk and Bradley Rickard
“Can Neural Activation in Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Predict Responsiveness to Information? An Application to Egg Production Systems and Campaign Advertising.”
PLOS ONE
with Jayson Lusk, John Crespi, Bradley Cherry, Laura Martin, Robin Aupperle, and Amanda Bruce
“An fMRI Investigation of Consumer Choice Regarding Controversial Food Technologies.”
Food Quality and Preference
with Jayson Lusk, John Crespi, Brandon McFadden, Laura Martin, and Amanda Bruce
“Are Consumers as Constrained as Hens are Confined? Brain Activations and Behavioral Choices after Informational Influence.”
Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization
with Alex Francisco, Amanda Bruce, John Crespi, Jayson Lusk, Jared Bruce, Robin Aupperle, and Seung-Lark Lim
“Biotechnology Applications for Consumers in Developing Areas and Consumer Acceptance.”
Farm Policy Journal
with Emmanuel Domonko and Conner Mullally
Publications while in grad school (2014 and before)
“Consumers’ Neural and Behavioral Response to Food Technologies and Price.”
Journal of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Economics
with Amanda Bruce, Jayson Lusk, John Crespi, Bradley Cherry, Jared Bruce, Cary Savage, William Brooks, and Laura Martin
“Effects of Cost and Campaign Advertising on Support for California’s Proposition 37.”
Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics
with Jayson Lusk
“How Greenhouse Gas Emission Policy and Industry Pressure Could Affect Producer Selection of Rice Cultivars.”
Agricultural and Resource Economics Review
with Lanier Nalley and Michael Popp
“Competing Risks Models of Farm Service Agency Seven-Year Direct Operating Loans.”
Agricultural Finance Review
with Bruce Dixon, Bruce Ahrendsen, Diana Danforth, Monica Foianini, and Sandra Hamm