An evaluation of the use and perceived appropriateness of milk using the repertory grid method and the ‘item by use’ appropriateness method

Abstract

The repertory grid method and the ‘item by use’ appropriateness method were used to study the place milk occupies within the diet, its perceived appropriateness and people's beliefs concerning different types of milk. The results of both methods suggest that consumers tend to find their most used type of milk suitable for all their uses of milk. In the repertory grid study the high-fat milk users separated the milks to a greater extent on ‘taste/flavour’, ‘richness’, and ‘wateriness’ whereas the low-fat milk users separated the milks to a greater extent on ‘fat content’, ‘creaminess’, ‘richness’, and ‘healthiness’. In the ‘item by use’ appropriateness study high-fat milk users used no particular use-attribute to separate the milks, whereas the low-fat milk users separated the milks to a greater extent on ‘when I want something low in calories’, ‘when I want something that contains little fat’, and ‘when on a diet’.