Descriptive and Injunctive Normative messages and Skin Carotenoids

These data were collected as part of my dissertation project. There are two data sets. The first data set was collected in the spring semester of 2015. The second data set was collected in the Fall semester of 2017. These data sets have been de-identified and cannot be traced back to the participants. The projects were similar in process, but differed on several points. Each of these projects were conducted at Utah State University among undergraduate college students. Both were randomized trials. The purpose of these studies was to determine the effect that messages regarding peers' skin carotenoid scores, a biomarker of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, had on participants' FV intake and carotenoid score. Participants filled out a FV intake survey and had carotenoids measured at baseline and again after 4-6 weeks. The survey consisted of an unvalidated FV questionnaire (Sp15) and the National Cancer Institute's FV screener, as well as a two-item FV screener (Fa17). Levels of carotenoid compounds were measured in the skin using resonance Raman spectroscopy, a non-invasive method that measures carotenoids in the palm of the hand. In study one (Sp15), participants were emailed a message regarding skin carotenoids. In study 2 (Fa17), participants were given a paper copy of their score and how it fit within a distribution of their peers.