4.3.2 contemporary study Flashcards
What was the learning theory is contemporary study called and who were the researchers
Becker et al 2002 eating behaviours and attitudes following prolonged exposure to TV among ethnic fijian Adolescent girls.
What was the aim
to investigate the impact of western attitudes on the eating behaviours and related attitudes of teenage girls. And the effect that the idea is communicated through TV would have a body satisfaction and eating disorders
Describe the procedure
design: it was a naturalistic experiment, the independent variable was the exposure to western TV, the dependent variable was eating behaviour and attitudes to body image and one group question several weeks before the TV was introduced in Fiji and a different group 3 years later
Participants: two separate samples, original sample in 1995 consisted of 63 ethnic Fijian girls For the mean age of 17 and the second sample in 1998 was 65 ethnic fijian Girls with the mean age of 17
method: it was a cross-sectional study and the dependent variables were measured into ways-eating behaviours via a standard questionnaire which is a self reporting method, giving quantitive data, and general attitudes to body image measured by a semistructured interview providing qualitative data
In both studies participants were interviewed and completed the questionnaire individually in their own homes and a translator was present to ensure clear communication. The participants height and weight was measured and the girls who scored over the threshold for dysfunctional eating based on the questionnaire were given further interviews which were recorded and transcribed.
Describe the results
weight did not differ between the two groups of girls with BMI of 24.5 and 24.9
TV viewing did increase from 41% in 1995 to 71% in 1998 having a TV at home
in the survey questionnaire to significant differences were noted: scores of dysfunctional eating had increased-12.7% scoring over the threshold in 1995 compare to 29.2% in 1998.
in 1995:0 percentage reported purging and in 1998 11.3% reported this behaviour
In 19 9869% said they had dieted and 74% said they felt too fat so bodies dissatisfaction had increased.
Quantitive data followed several themes: interviews suggested in 1998 the characters on TV were role models social learning theory and that 83% felt that TV had influence the way they and their friends looked at their bodies with 77% same TV had influence their body image
I believe that eating less would improve career prospects with 40% justifying the desire to eat less with a connection to job prospects
What was the conclusion
Becca concluded that in Fiji the introduction of TV influence changes to eating attitude in women which run counter to the traditional attitudes towards eating and body images that I previously dominated Fiji culture. Women in western TV shows became role models for the girls leading them to want dinner bodies and this led to the rise in dysfunctional eating attitude and behaviour as well as a decline in body image. This is an example of the harm caused by rapid social change link to importing elements of western culture to indigenous populations
Evaluate the contemporary study
generalisability: the experiment involve two large groups (60+ ppts) and this is a good size for research sample as tiny anomalies should be averaged out by the rest. however it is still a small sample to draw a conclusion from about the entirety of a population, to draw a conclusion about teens as a whole a large example would be more representative. Becca herself said generalisation about the impact of TV upon Fiji girls to other populations requires caution, as they were naive and didn’t understand they were acting and it was not reality TV
reliability: it has standardise procedures and was carefully documented, he had good test retest reliability as the questionnaire was used with both groups and a score over 20 meant the same thing in 1995 as it did in 1998. There are some eating disorders that the questionnaire does not reliably detect and good interrater reliability as the interviews were tape-recording and transcribed
Application: the main application is for health workers as Fiji set aside little money for mental health so Becca said there is need for more health spending and has implications for other countries e.g. size 0 model is banned in Italian fashion shows
validity: less than a third of the sample school dangerously high 9098 where is 12.7% scored a high 1995 despite Becca saying eating problems were unheard-of. This suggests that there were already problems with eating so TV may not be the only factor. Also it was a natural experiment so it is difficult to be sure that TV is the sole reason and the use of independent groups design although both groups the same age they would not have been the exact same and it would’ve been better if it was a repeated measures design. Also are the researchers question whether eating disorders are really learned behaviours at all. And they had good use of qualitative data
ethics: becker and her team are not specialist in eating disorders and were not competent to diagnose anorexia. It would be unethical to give participants the impression they had a medical problem when really they just had bad eating habits. Alarming or misleading participants like this would’ve shown a lack of social responsibility. Also Beckers interviews might have provoked conflict between the girls and the old generation by drawing attention to differences in their aspirations and outlooks. But to make the study ethical Becca looked instead for worrying signs like increased dieting but the girls were not diagnosed with anorexia.
