Researchers wanted to understand what influences college students when they use food delivery apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats. They surveyed students about their ordering habits and discovered that several factors affect their choices—including price, how hungry they are, what their friends are eating, and how easy the app is to use. This study helps explain the real-world decisions young adults make when ordering food on their phones, which could be useful for both the apps and students trying to make healthier choices.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: What factors influence the food choices college students make when using food delivery apps
- Who participated: University students who regularly use online food delivery applications
- Key finding: Multiple factors shape food choices on delivery apps, including cost, convenience, hunger level, social influences, and app design features
- What it means for you: Understanding what influences your food delivery choices can help you make more intentional decisions about what you order, whether that’s saving money, eating healthier, or just being aware of why you’re picking certain foods
The Research Details
This was a snapshot study where researchers asked college students questions about their food delivery app habits at one point in time. They didn’t follow students over months or years—they just gathered information from a group of students and analyzed their answers. The researchers created a survey asking students about different factors that might influence their choices, such as price, how convenient the app is, whether their friends are ordering from the same place, and how hungry they feel. By collecting all these responses, they could identify patterns in what matters most when students decide what to order.
This type of study is useful because it captures real-world behavior without trying to control or change anything. It shows what actually influences students in their daily lives, rather than what researchers think might influence them. Understanding these real factors helps food delivery companies design better apps and helps students understand their own decision-making.
This study was published in Scientific Reports, a well-respected science journal. However, the study only captures one moment in time, so it shows what influences choices but can’t prove that one thing causes another. The results apply specifically to college students and may not be the same for other age groups or populations.
What the Results Show
The research identified several key factors that college students consider when ordering food through apps. Price and cost appear to be major influences on what students choose to order. The convenience of the app itself—how easy it is to use and how quickly you can place an order—also plays an important role. Additionally, how hungry a student feels at the moment affects their choices, as does what their friends or roommates are ordering. The study suggests that these factors don’t work in isolation; instead, students weigh multiple considerations together when making their decision.
Beyond the main factors, the research likely identified other influences such as restaurant ratings and reviews, delivery time, whether there are special deals or discounts available, and personal food preferences. These secondary factors may matter differently depending on the situation—for example, delivery speed might matter more when you’re very hungry, while price might matter more when you’re on a tight budget.
This study builds on earlier research about how people make food choices in general. While previous studies looked at grocery shopping or restaurant dining, this research focuses specifically on the digital environment of food delivery apps, which is a growing area of interest. The findings align with what we know about decision-making but show that the app interface and digital convenience add new dimensions to how students choose food.
The study only looked at college students, so the results may not apply to other age groups. The researchers didn’t specify exactly how many students participated, which makes it harder to judge how reliable the findings are. Additionally, because this is a snapshot study, it can’t prove that one factor directly causes another—it only shows what factors are present when students make choices. Students’ answers about their own behavior may not always be completely accurate.
The Bottom Line
If you use food delivery apps, try becoming more aware of what influences your choices. Consider making a quick mental checklist before ordering: Are you ordering because it’s cheap, because you’re very hungry, because your friends are ordering from there, or because the app makes it easy? This awareness can help you make choices that better match your actual goals, whether that’s saving money or eating healthier. (Moderate confidence—based on observational research)
College students and young adults who regularly use food delivery apps should find this most relevant. Parents of college students might also find it interesting to understand their children’s ordering habits. Food delivery companies and app designers should care about these findings when improving their services.
Changes in awareness and decision-making can happen immediately once you start paying attention to your choices. However, if you’re trying to change your actual ordering patterns based on this awareness, expect it to take a few weeks of practice to develop new habits.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track your food delivery orders for one week, noting the price, delivery time, and whether you ordered alone or with friends. This helps you see which factors actually influence your real choices.
- Before placing your next food delivery order, pause and identify which factor is driving your choice: price, hunger level, social influence, or app convenience. Write it down to build awareness of your decision patterns.
- Weekly check-ins where you review your delivery orders and the factors that influenced them. Over time, you’ll see patterns in your behavior and can decide if you want to make any changes to how you order.
This research describes factors that influence food choices but does not provide medical or nutritional advice. If you have specific dietary needs, allergies, or health concerns related to food, please consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian. The findings apply specifically to college students and may not generalize to other populations. This study is observational and cannot prove that any single factor causes specific food choices.