Start Date: February 2016

ID #: 73389

Principal Investigator: Michele Polacsek, PhD

Organization: University of New England

Funding Round: Round 9

See more related research

Share


This study aims to assess school digital marketing environments in a national sample of middle schools to identify opportunities and barriers to limit school-based marketing. This team previously developed a survey to assess digital marketing in schools as part of a previous HER-funded grant which will be used in this study. The specific aims of this project are to: 1) pretest and pilot a school-based digital marketing survey; 2) assess digital marketing environments using the survey tool in a national sample of middle schools comparing census regions, urban and rural, as well as minority and majority population school districts; 2a) pilot the student section of the digital marketing tool to explore use of school and personal digital devices, students’ use of social media during the school day, and perceptions about digital marketing at school; and 3) develop recommendations for further assessment, policy, and practical approaches to limit digital marketing to students at school. The online survey will be administered to a representative sample of U.S. middle school personnel. A survey will be administered to 100 Maine middle schools students in one Maine school district to pilot test the student section of the tool.

Related Research

September 2019

Digital Food and Beverage Marketing Environments in a National Sample of Middle Schools: Implications for Policy and Practice

One promising approach to influence nutrition behavior is to limit food and beverage marketing to children. Children are a lucrative market and schools may be an effective setting in which to intervene. Studies have shown that marketing in schools is prevalent but little is known about digital marketing to students in the school setting. Researchers More

June 2023

Understanding Barriers and Facilitators of Universal Free School Meals in NYS

When waivers for Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) ended in 2022, approximately 726,000 students lost access to free meals in New York (NY). This study examines the impact of maintaining (or de-implementing) Universal Free School Meals in NY, especially for Black and Hispanic/Latino families who may be disproportionately impacted by pre-existing inequities. This study will More

May 2023

Toddler milk: a scoping review of research on consumption, perceptions, and marketing practices

Toddler milk is an ultra-processed beverage consisting primarily of powdered milk, caloric sweeteners, and vegetable oil. Pediatric health authorities do not support the use of toddler milk, and emerging evidence suggests that toddler-milk marketing practices may mislead consumers. However, studies have not synthesized the extent of toddler-milk marketing practices or how these practices affect parents’ More