Quinnipiac University

School of Business User Experience and Behavioral Insights Lab

As a part of the Innovation Hub, the mission of Quinnipiac’s User Experience and Behavioral Insights Lab is to foster a dynamic and collaborative research environment dedicated to advancing knowledge, innovation and societal impact.

The latest technology in marketing research

A student and faculty member examine heat map data on an eye-tracking interface displayed on a desktop monitor. The screen shows visual analytics for user engagement with a product webpage, while the faculty member smiles and provides guidance.

We are committed to cultivating a diverse community of scholars, students and professionals who are driven by a shared passion for exploration and discovery. Through cutting-edge technology, interdisciplinary collaboration and the mentorship of emerging talent, we drive advancements in the academic understanding and practical implications of behavioral research.

The lab houses cutting-edge equipment and software to design, execute, manage and schedule studies. Along with 10 dedicated workstations and two high-powered laptops, the lab has:

  • Tobii Eye Tracking hardware and software: This software and equipment allows us to test what people pay attention to when viewing advertisements, videos, websites and other screen-based content.
  • Noldus Facereader emotion detection software: With this software, we can read people’s emotions while interacting with screen-based content. Emotion reading and eye tracking can be tested simultaneously.
  • Sawtooth choice-based conjoint software: Want to determine what attributes are important to consumers when purchasing products? This software allows us to design studies to answer these questions.
  • E-Prime response time software: We often need to understand the level at which individuals are thinking versus automatically responding to stimuli without much thought. This software allows us to test this, along with allowing us to understand what combinations of stimuli might conflict with consumer beliefs. These are important factors when developing advertising messages and other communications.
  • ESRI ArcGIS geographical analysis software: Ever wonder about population, health, commercial or other characteristics across a geographic region? ArcGIS allows for easy geographic depiction of these things. Numerous datasets can be overlaid onto maps with this software to answer marketing problems like where a business should be located.
  • Qualtrics Survey Software: This is the gold standard for survey software.  Many marketing studies are based on surveys and experiments that can be designed in Qualtrics.
  • Linguistics Inquiry: If you are interested in identifying content categories in text data like data you might have scraped from the web, or if you are interested in understanding the amount of elaboration that goes into a verbal response to a question, this software allows users to investigate these types of questions.
  • Adobe Creative Cloud: You name it, you can create it.  Adobe’s Creative Cloud allows for image, video and audio editing, along with animation and other cutting edge creative content makers.
  • SONA lab scheduling system / Behavioral lab subject pool: Running a behavioral research lab is complicated.  We have software to manage the day-to-day operations of the lab.

Pioneering innovation through behavioral insights

Fundamental Principles

By embracing our fundamental principles, Quinnipiac’s User Experience and Behavioral Insights Lab seeks to be a leader in advancing the understanding of consumer behavior, driving innovation in marketing practices and contributing to the improvement of consumer welfare.

  • Education through Mentorship: We are committed to fostering a learning community where students, academics and industry professionals engage in the latest advancements in behavioral research. Through hands-on research experiences, mentorship programs and educational initiatives, we empower students to become critical thinkers and problem solvers capable of making meaningful contributions in the domain of behavioral research.
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Embracing the power of collaboration, we actively foster interdisciplinary interactions within our lab and beyond. By bringing together diverse perspectives, expertise and methodologies, we develop insights into consumer decision-making processes, enabling businesses to create winning marketing strategies.
  • Research Excellence: Through rigorous research methodologies, we work to conduct sound empirical research that provides the academic community with a deeper understanding of the drivers, motivations and nuances underlying consumer behavior and affords businesses with actionable knowledge to navigate the complex landscape of consumer interactions.
  • Ethical Considerations: Upholding the highest ethical standards, we conduct research that respects the rights and well-being of participants and promotes responsible and inclusive practices in understanding and influencing consumer behavior.

Recent Research Projects

Student Research Projects

  • Labeling of sustainable meat alternatives – how to convey favorable attitudes, understanding of products and willingness to try.
  • Artificial Intelligence in product recommendation agents – the role of transparency on willingness to buy.
  • Search engine privacy and AI – an eye tracking study on attention differences between public and private search engines.
  • Streaming services advertising – an eye tracking study on attention to advertising.
  • AI vs Artist-created Music – Do consumers care about authenticity?
  • Fandom – how do fans of winning and losing teams differ?
  • Social media influencer impact on consumer purchase anxiety
  • Past self and future self goals – does music selection influence goal perception?
  • Colors and sports sponsorship perceptions.

 

Undergraduate Lab Fellows Program

Undergraduate students in the marketing programs who have an interest in marketing/behavioral research and demonstrate the qualities sought for the fellows program are invited to apply for intensive independent research studies for class credit. These students have the opportunity to learn new software tools and work closely with the Faculty Program Director on research and lab administration. Students receive three credits for the class and are encouraged to spend two semesters (six credits) in the program to immerse in a research project.

Contact Us

About Patricia Norberg
Director of the User Experience and Behavioral Research Lab

Patricia Norberg, PhD, is a professor of marketing at Quinnipiac University and oversees the Marketing Research and Behavioral Insights Lab and the Lab Fellows Program. Her primary research interests are in the public policy domain, including privacy/personal information disclosure, well-being and advertising comprehension. Her secondary research interests are in incentives and pricing/value. Norberg received her Bachelor’s Degree, MBA and PhD from the University of Rhode Island.

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