Assessing the Societal Impact of Research: The Relational Engagement Approach

Marketing and policy researchers seeking to increase the societal impact of their scholarship should engage directly with relevant stakeholders. For maximum societal effect, this engagement needs to occur both within the research process and throughout the complex process of knowledge transfer. Thus, we propose the relational engagement approach to research impact as complementary and building upon traditional approaches. Traditional approaches to impact employ bibliometric measures and focus more on the creation and use of journal articles by scholarly audiences, an important but incomplete part of the academic process. We suggest expanding the strategies and measures of impact to include process assessments for specific stakeholders across the entire course of impact: from the creation, awareness, and use of knowledge to societal impact. This relational engagement approach involves the co-creation of research with audiences beyond academia

From Nutrients to Nurturance

The authors propose a restructuring of the “food as health” paradigm to “food as well-being.” This requires shifting from an emphasis on restraint and restrictions to a more positive, holistic understanding of the role of food in overall well-being. The authors propose the concept of food well-being (FWB), defined as a positive psychological, physical, emotional, and social relationship with food at both individual and societal levels. The authors define and explain the five primary domains of FWB: food socialization, food literacy, food marketing, food availability, and food policy. The FWB framework employs a richer definition of food and highlights the need for research that bridges other disciplines and paradigms outside and within marketing. Further research should develop and refine the understanding of each domain with the ultimate goal of moving the field toward this embodiment of food as well-being.

Mindfulness: Its Transformative Potential for Consumer, Societal, and Environmental Well-Being

The authors propose that mindfulness is an antidote to mindless consumption, which adversely affects individual and collective well-being. The concept of mindfulness is explained and applied to the consumption context. More specifically, the authors examine mindful consumption as an ongoing practice of bringing attention, with acceptance, to inner and outer stimuli, and the effects of this practice on the consumption process. The transformative potential of mindful consumption is reviewed across domains of consumer, societal, and environmental well-being, with suggestions for future research. The article highlights some of the challenges to realizing the transformative potential of mindful consumption and concludes with suggestions for the actions that consumers, institutions, and policy makers could take to promote mindful consumption.

When the Burger Becomes Halal: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Privilege and Marketplace Inclusion

Although a rich body of research provides insights to understanding stigma within the marketplace, much less is known regarding its direct corollary, privilege. We posit that this vold is problematic as it may inadvertently support and legitimate existing socio-political arrangements which inhibit consumer well-being and marketplace equality. The present study addresses this gap by offering a theoretical understanding of privilege and power, we draw on the discursive perspective on legitimation to critically investigate the contentious debate over the inclusion of halal meat at a popular burger chain in France. In light of the French political secularism, we demonstrate how power discursively operates through narratives on rights and moral responsibility to constitute, defend and challenge a certain state of privilege within the marketplace. Our resulting theoretical discussion extends existing studies on marketplace equality and the growing body of literature related to the “marketization of religion”.

Targeted Marketing and Public Health

Targeted marketing techniques, which identify consumers who share common needs or characteristics and position products or services to appeal to and reach these consumers, are now the core of all marketing and facilitate its effectiveness. However, targeted marketing, particularly of products with proven or potential adverse effects (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, entertainment violence, or unhealthful foods) to consumer segments defined as vulnerable raises complex concerns for public health. It is critical that practitioners, academics, and policy makers in marketing, public health, and other fields recognize and understand targeted marketing as a specific contextual influence on the health of children and adolescents and, or different reasons, ethnic minority populations and other populations who may benefit from public health protections. For beneficial products, such understanding can foster more socially productive targeting. For potentially harmful products, understanding the nature and scope of targeted marketing influences will support identification and implementation of corrective policies.

The Context for Choice: Health Implications of Targeted Food and Beverage Marketing African Americans

Targeted marketing of high-calorie foods and beverages to ethnic minority populations, relative to more healthful foods, may contribute to ethnic disparities in obesity and other diet-related chronic conditions. We conducted a systematic review of studies published in June 1992 through 2006 (n=20) that permitted comparison of food and beverage marketing to African Americas versus Whites and others. Eight studies reported on product promotions, 11 on retail food outlet locations, and 3 on food prices. Although the evidence base has limitations, studies indicated that African Americans are consistently exposed to food promotion and distribution patterns with relatively greater potential averse health effects than are Whites. The limited evidence on price disparities was inconclusive.

 

Grier, Sonya A. and Vanessa G. Perry (2017 Forthcoming) Dog Parks and Coffee Shops: Faux- Diversity and Consumption in Gentrifying Neighborhoods,” Journal of Public Policy & Marketing.

The process of gentrification, whereby lower income residents are replaced with higher income ones (Glass 1964), has changed the composition and character of hundreds of urban neighborhoods in cities worldwide. These changes affect not only the physical landscape, but also the diversity of the people who live there. This research explored diversity-seeking, consumption and community in neighborhoods undergoing gentrification. The authors conducted a qualitative study of longer-term and newer residents in three neighborhoods in Washington DC to examine how the demographic changes that accompany gentrification relate to consumption. Findings suggest that diversity-seeking tendencies among newer residents were accompanied by tensions in the social and consumption domains, such that longer-term residents perceived exclusion and all residents experienced a reduced sense of community. The authors also found that these dynamics undermined the diversity that drew residents to these areas in the first place, resulting in ‘faux-diversity’. Based on these findings, strategies that may be utilized by marketers and policymakers to contribute to the development of inclusive, healthy, and sustainable diverse communities are discussed.  

See CV

Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications

 Bahl, S., G.R. Milne, S.M. Ross, D.G. Mick, S.A. Grier, S.K. Chugani, S. Chan, S.J. Gould,           Y. Cho, J.D. Dorsey, R.M. Schindler, M.R. Murdock, S.B. Mariani (2016), “Mindfulness:         The Transformative Potential for Consumer, Societal and Environmental Well-Being,”           Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 35 (2), 198-210.

 

Ozanne, J., B. Davis, , J.  Murray, S.A. Grier, H. Downey, A.E, Ekpo, M. Garnier,                        J.Hietanen, A. Seregina, K. D. Thomas, E. Veer  (2016), “Assessing the Societal                  Impact of Research: The Relational Engagement Approach,” Journal of Public Policy            and Marketing.

 

Davis, B. and S. A.  Grier, (2015) “A Tale of Two Urbanicities: Exploring Adolescent Alcohol       and Cigarette Consumption In Low Versus High-Poverty Urban Neighborhoods,”                   Journal of Business Research, special issue on Problem Gambling, Drinking or                    Smoking: Advancing Theory and Evidence, 68:10, pages 2109-2116.

 

Adeigbe, R.T., S. Baldwin, K. J. Gallion, S. A., Grier, and A.G.  Ramirez (2015) “Food and          Beverage Marketing to Latinos: A Systematic Literature Review, Health Education and          Behavior,42:5 569-582.

 

DiSantis, K. I., S. A., Grier, J. M. Oakes, & S. K. Kumanyika (2014). “Food Prices and Food      Shopping Decisions of Black Women,” Appetite, 77, 106-114.

 

Brumbaugh, A. and S. A. Grier (2013), “Agents of Change:  A Scale to Identify Diversity            Seekers,” Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 32:2, 144-155.

 

Grier S.A. and B. Davis (2013), “Are All Proximity Effects Created Equal? Fast Food near         Schools and Body Weight among Diverse Adolescents,” Journal of Public Policy and             Marketing, 32:1, 116-128.

 

Kemp, E., M. Bui and S. A. Grier (2013), “When Food is More Than Nutrition:                            Understanding Emotional Eating and Overconsumption,” Journal of Consumer Behavior,      12:3, 204-213.

 

DiSantis, K.I., S. A. Grier, A. Odoms-Young, M.L. Baskin, L. Carter-Edwards, D.R. Young, V. Lassiter, S. and K. Kumanyika (2013), “What “Price” Means When Buying Food:  Insights from a Multi-Site Qualitative Study with Black Americans,” American Journal of Public Health, 103:3, 516-522.

 

Johnson, G.D. and S. A. Grier (2013), “Understanding the influence of Cross-Cultural Consumer-to-Consumer Interaction on Consumer Service Satisfaction,” Journal of Business Research, 66:3, 306-313.

 

Johnson, G.D. and S. A. Grier (2012), “What about the Intended Consequences?” Examining the Effects of Race-Stereotyped Portrayals On Advertising Effectiveness,” Journal of Advertising, 41:3 (Fall), 95–110.

 

Winner, 2012 Journal of Advertising Best Article award

 

Bradford, T.W., S. A. Grier, and G. R. Henderson (2012), “Gifts and Gifting in Online Communities,” Research in Consumer Behaviour, 14, 29-46.

 

Kumanyika, S.K., W.C. Taylor, S. A. Grier, V. Lassiter, K. Lancaster, C.B. Morssink and A. Renzaho (2012), “Community Energy Balance: A Framework for Contextualizing Cultural Influences on High Risk of Obesity in Ethnic Minority Populations,” Preventive Medicine, 55:5 (November), 371-381.

 

Montgomery, Kathryn C., J. Chester, S. A. Grier, and L. Dorfman, (2012), “The New Threat of Digital Marketing,” Pediatric Clinics of North America, 59 (June), p 559-675.

Huang, S.H., E. P. Parks, S.K. Kumanyika, S. A. Grier, J. Shults, V.A. Stallings, and N. Stettler (2012), “Child-Feeding Practices Among Chinese-American and Non-Hispanic White Caregivers,” Appetite, 58:3, (June), 922–927.

Grier, S. A. and G.D. Johnson (2011), “Alisha in Obesity-land: Is Food Marketing the Mad Hatter?” International Journal of Case Studies in Management, 9:4 (November), 1-26.

 

Winner, “Dark Side IX” Case-Writing Competition, Academy of Management

Reprinted in (2013). The Dark Side 2: Critical Cases on the Downside of Management, Eds. Pauline Fatien Diochon, chapter 13.

 

Johnson, G.D., S. A. Grier (2011), “Targeting Without Alienating: Multicultural Advertising and the Subtleties of Targeted Advertising”, International Journal of Advertising, 30:2, 233-258.

 

Kemp, E., M. Bui and S. A. Grier (2011), “Eating Their Feelings: Examining Emotional Eating in At-Risk Groups in the United States”, Journal of Consumer Policy, 34:2 (June), 211-229.

 

Block, L.G., S. A. Grier, T.L. Childers, B. Davis, J. Ebert, S. Kumanyika, R.N. Laczniak, J.E. Machin, C.M. Motley, L. Peracchio, S. Pettigrew, M. Scott and M.N.G. Van Ginkel Bieshaar (2011), “From Nutrients to Nurturance: A Conceptual Introduction to Food Well-being,” Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, Special Issue, Transformative Consumer Research, 30:1, 5-13.

 

Winner, the Thomas C. Kinnear, Journal of Public Policy and Marketing Best Paper Award

 

Magid, K. and S. A. Grier (2010), “The Food Mail Program: When Figs Fly – Dispatching Access and Affordability to Healthy Food,” Social Marketing Quarterly, 16:3 (September), 78-95. 

 

Johnson, G.D. S. A. Grier and R. Elliot (2010), “Conceptualizing Multicultural Advertising in the “New” South Africa”, Journal of Global Marketing, 23 (June), 189-207.

 

Grier, S. A. and S.K. Kumanyika (2010), “Targeted Marketing and Public Health,” Annual Review of Public Health, 31 (April), 349-369.

 

Hillier, A., B.L. Cole, T.E. Smith, A.K. Yancey, J.D. Williams, S. A. Grier and W.J. McCarthy (2009), “Clustering of Unhealthy Outdoor Advertisements Around Child-Serving Institutions: A Comparison of Three Cities,” Health & Place, 15:4 (December), 935-945.

 

Yancey, A.K., B.L. Cole, R.V. Brown, J.D. Williams, A. Hillier, R. Kline, M. Ashe, S. A. Grier, D. Backman, and W. J. McCarthy (2009), “A Cross-Sectional Prevalence Study of Ethnically-Targeted and General Audience Outdoor Obesity-Related Advertising,” The Milbank Quarterly, 87:1, 155-184.

 

Barg, F.K. and S. A. Grier (2008), “Enhancing Breast Cancer Communications: A Cultural Models Approach,” International Journal of Research in Marketing, Special Issue on Marketing and Health, 25:4 (December), 335-342.

Grier, S. A. and S.K. Kumanyika (2008), “The Context for Choice:  Health Implications of Targeted Food and Beverage Marketing to African-Americans,” American Journal of Public Health, 98:9 (September), 1616-1629.

Williams, C.T., S. A. Grier and A.S. Marks (2008), “Coming to Town”: The Impact of Urbanicity, Cigarette Advertising and Network Norms on the Smoking Attitudes of Black Women in Cape Town,” Journal of Urban Health, Special Issue on Corporations and Public Health, 85:4 (July), 472-485.

Grier, S. A., J.L. Mensinger, S.H. Huang, S.K. Kumanyika and N. Stettler (2007), “Fast Food Marketing and Children’s Fast Food Consumption: Exploring Parental Influences in an Ethnically Diverse Sample,” Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 26:2 (Fall), 221-235.

Grier, S. A. and A. Brumbaugh (2007), “Compared to Whom? The Impact of Status On Third Person Effects in Advertising Persuasion in A South African Context,” Journal of Consumer Behavior, 6:1 (February), 5-18.

Mehrotra, A., S. A. Grier, and R. A. Dudley (2006), “The Relationship Between Health Plan Advertising and Market Incentives: Evidence of Risk Selective Behavior,” Health Affairs, 25:3 (May/June), 759-765.

Grier, S. A., A. Brumbaugh and C. Thornton (2006), “Crossover Dreams: Consumer Responses to Ethnic-Oriented Products,” Journal of Marketing, 70:2 (April), 35-51.

Invited for presentation in special Journal of Marketing session, AMA Winter Educator’s Conference, , March 2006. Also featured on Association for Consumer Research (ACR) Website, June 2006.

 

Brumbaugh, A. and S. A. Grier (2006), “Insights from a “Failed” Experiment: Directions for Pluralistic, Multiethnic Advertising Research,” Journal of Advertising, 35:3 (Fall).

Kumanyika, SK.and S. A. Grier (2006), “Targeting Interventions for Ethnic Minority and Low Income Communities,” The Future of Children, 16:1, 187-207.

Grier, S. A. and C. Bryant (2005), “Social Marketing and Public Health,” Annual Review of Public Health, 26, 319-339.

Reprinted in Krishna, S.J., ed. (2007). Marketing for Social Change: Perspectives and Experiences, Hyderabad: ICFAI University Press, 89-116.

Forehand, M. and S. A. Grier (2003), “When is Honesty the Best Policy? The Effect of Stated Company Intent on Consumer Skepticism,” Journal of Consumer Psychology, 13:3, 349–356.

Crockett, D., S. A. Grier, and J. Williams (2003), “Coping with Marketplace Discrimination: An Exploration of the Experiences of Black Men,” Academy of Marketing Science Review, 4, 1-21.

Reprinted in Taher, N. and S. Gopalan, eds. (2007), Marketplace Anthropology, Hyderabad: ICFAI University Press, 210-240.

Grier, S. A. and R. Deshpande (2001), “Social Dimensions of Consumer Distinctiveness: The Influence of Social Status on Group Identity and Advertising Persuasion,” Journal of Marketing Research, 38:2 (May), 216-224.

Grier, S. A. (2001), “The FTC Report on the Marketing of Violent Entertainment to Youth:  Developing Policy Tuned Research,” Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 20:1 (Spring), 123-132.

Grier, S. A. and A.L. McGill (2000), “How We Explain Depends on Who We Explain: The Impact of Social Category on the Selection of Causal Comparisons and Causal Explanations,” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 36:6, 545-566.

Aaker, J., A. Brumbaugh, and S. A. Grier (2000), “Non-Target Market Effects and Viewer           Distinctiveness: The Impact of Target Marketing on Attitudes,” Journal of Consumer             Psychology, 9:3, 127-140.

Grier, S. A. and A. Brumbaugh (1999), “Noticing Cultural Differences: Advertising Meanings       Created by the Target and Non-Target Markets,” Journal of Advertising, 28:1 (Spring),         79-93.

Williams, J., W. Qualls and S. A. Grier (1995), “Racially Exclusive Real Estate Advertising:         Public Policy Implications,” Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, 14:2, 225-244.