Date of Graduation

12-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Human Environmental Science (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

General Human Environmental Sciences

Advisor/Mentor

Robert J. Harrington

Committee Member

Godwin-Charles Ogbeide

Second Committee Member

Allen Powell

Third Committee Member

Han-Seok Seo

Fourth Committee Member

Kelly Way

Keywords

Social sciences, Communication and the arts, Biological sciences, Ethnic music, Menu item selection, Restaurant atmossphere

Abstract

This study investigated what impact ethnic music had on ethnic menu item selection. College students were randomly divided into three groups and listened to one randomly assigned sound treatment in sensory booths. Three hundred and five participants completed the questionnaire with measures of expected price value and willingness to pay value. One of the groups listened to an Italian folk music, the second group listened to a Thai folk music, and the third group listened to a restaurant background noise in order to examine if the music will impact each participant menu items selection and perceived price values. The result of the study showed that Italian music had a significant influence on the participant's intention to select Italian cuisines. Similarly, Thai music showed some form of relationship between Thai music and Thai cuisine selections.

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