Bailey Norwood
Dr. Bailey Norwood is an associate professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma University, where he began in 2003. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from North Carolina State University in 2001.
In his early years, Bailey dabbled in a variety of research topics; these include the development of new statistical procedures for model selection, the behavior of consumers when choosing among a large array of products, designing voluntary check-offs for livestock, swine waste management, and pesticide productivity.
More recently, Bailey has narrowed his research interest to focus on three areas solely. The first area regards farm animal welfare. The debates being held regarding the treatment of chickens, hogs, and cattle will be fought for many years to come. Bailey has played an important role in the debate by providing objective, forthright information that allow consumers to develop their own views, and to empowering ordinary citizens by representing their views in cost-benefit analysis.
To understand and represent consumer views, one must conduct surveys and experiments with representative samples of the population. Designing accurate surveys and experiments is difficult, but with the help of his colleague Jayson Lusk, Bailey has developed innovative tools for measuring consumer attitudes. For example, one tool is the use of indirect questions, where people are asked how the average American thinks, instead of direct questions where people are asked what they themselves think. These indirect questions mitigate what researchers refer to as social desirability bias. Another example is the design of a computer-aided auction technique where consumers exploit the processing power of computers to better develop and express their own views regarding the treatment of farm animals.
Finally, a significant portion of Bailey's research aims at improving university teaching and advising of students. Through personal interviews and surveys of students and their potential employers, Bailey has answered the question of what students believe comprise a great teacher, how to help students become a marketable job candidate, and student preferences for multimedia teaching tools.
Dr. Norwood has published over thirty journal articles, many in the top agricultural economics and environmental economics journals. With colleage and friend Jayson Lusk, Bailey has published an undergraduate textbook, titled Agricultural Marketing and Price Analysis, and will soon publish a book on farm animal welfare, titled Ham and Eggonomics.
