Short answer
When designing or implementing student support services, consider the surrounding commercial food landscape as a critical factor influencing need and effectiveness.
- Field
- Commercial Production
- Source
- Pepperdine Digital Commons (Pepperdine University) (2020)
- Method
- Quantitative and Case Study Analysis
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
The availability and diversity of food retailers in a campus's surrounding neighborhood significantly impact student food security and the effectiveness of campus food pantries. This commercial production research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in Pepperdine Digital Commons (Pepperdine University). Using Quantitative and case study analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing or implementing student support services, consider the surrounding commercial food landscape as a critical factor influencing need and effectiveness.
Campus food pantries address student food insecurity by optimizing local food environments.
The availability and diversity of food retailers in a campus's surrounding neighborhood significantly impact student food security and the effectiveness of campus food pantries.
Pepperdine Digital Commons (Pepperdine University) · 2020
Key Findings
- 01Neighborhood food environments, characterized by the types and density of food stores, are significant factors influencing the need for and operation of campus food pantries.
- 02Campus food pantries play a role in mitigating food insecurity among students, though their impact on dietary needs requires further exploration.
- 03A greater variety of food stores in proximity to campuses is suggested as beneficial for serving diverse student populations.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing or implementing student support services, consider the surrounding commercial food landscape as a critical factor influencing need and effectiveness.
How to apply
Before establishing or expanding campus food pantries, conduct an audit of local food retailers to understand accessibility, variety, and potential gaps in the food environment.
Project actions
- 01When researching a problem, consider the external factors that might be contributing to it, not just the immediate issue.
- 02Think about how the physical environment (like shops and transport) impacts people's access to resources.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Combines quantitative data with case study analysis for a more comprehensive understanding.
- +Focuses on the under-researched intersection of campus food pantries and neighborhood food environments.
Limitations
The study's findings are specific to the US context and may not apply everywhere. It also suggests more research is needed on how pantries improve actual diets.
Reliability & validity
The quantitative questionnaire responses and case study analysis provide a mixed-methods approach, potentially enhancing both reliability (through consistent data collection) and validity (by triangulating findings from different sources). However, the generalizability of findings from specific metropolitan counties needs consideration.
Think critically
How might the 'food desert' concept, often applied to urban and rural areas, also be relevant to understanding food accessibility on or near college campuses?
Design Principles
"The effectiveness of a support service is influenced by the surrounding environmental context and the availability of complementary resources."
Understanding the relationship between the local food environment and student needs is crucial for designing effective support systems. This research highlights how the proximity and type of food outlets can influence the success of initiatives aimed at alleviating food insecurity on educational campuses.
What This Means for Your Design
This study shows that where students live and shop for food affects whether they need help from campus food pantries. Having different kinds of food stores nearby can make a difference.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the need for a particular design solution by highlighting the environmental or systemic factors that create the problem.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the critical role of the surrounding food environment in shaping student food insecurity and the demand for campus food pantries. The study by Sharififard (2020) indicates that the types and proximity of local food retailers significantly influence the need for such services, suggesting that a diverse local food landscape can better support student populations.
Source
Pepperdine Digital Commons (Pepperdine University)
Books or food? Food insecurity and the rise of campus food pantries
journal · 2020
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about campus food pantries address student food insecurity by optimizing local food environments?
- When designing or implementing student support services, consider the surrounding commercial food landscape as a critical factor influencing need and effectiveness. Evidence: Pepperdine Digital Commons (Pepperdine University) (2020).
- Why does "Campus food pantries address student food insecurity by optimizing local food environments." matter for design?
- Understanding the relationship between the local food environment and student needs is crucial for designing effective support systems. This research highlights how the proximity and type of food outlets can influence the success of initiatives aimed at alleviating food insecurity on educational campuses.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing or implementing student support services, consider the surrounding commercial food landscape as a critical factor influencing need and effectiveness.
- What were the main findings?
- Neighborhood food environments, characterized by the types and density of food stores, are significant factors influencing the need for and operation of campus food pantries.. Campus food pantries play a role in mitigating food insecurity among students, though their impact on dietary needs requires further exploration.. A greater variety of food stores in proximity to campuses is suggested as beneficial for serving diverse student populations.
- What research method was used?
- Quantitative and Case Study Analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2020 journal from Pepperdine Digital Commons (Pepperdine University).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- Before establishing or expanding campus food pantries, conduct an audit of local food retailers to understand accessibility, variety, and potential gaps in the food environment.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses on public four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. and may not be generalizable to all higher education institutions or international contexts. The direct impact on dietary needs requires more in-depth investigation.