Becker et al. (2002)

Question 1

What’s the aim of the study?

Answer 1

To investigate the impact of exposure to Western
attitudes through the introduction of media on the eating behaviours of adolescent girls

Question 2

What were the results from the study?

Answer 2

• EAT score had more than doubled (12.7% = 1995; 29.2% = 1998)
• Those who self-induced vomiting as a means of weight loss increased (0% =1995; 11.3% =1998)

Question 3

What are 2 strengths of Becker et al (2002)?

Answer 3

• Standardised procedures e.g., same EAT-26 questionnaire used, which were replicated in 1998, creating reliable results as questionnaire had already been used before in research
• Large sample of girls (av. age 17) in both years which is more representative of the target population and anomalies won’t affect results

Question 4

What are 2 weaknesses of Becker et al. (2002)?

Answer 4

• Sample of Fijian girls which is ethnocentric with an etic bias. Therefore, this isn’t representative of the target population e.g., robust body shapes seen as attractive in Fijian society which may not be the same for other places, hence lacking generalisability
• Lacks internal validity as extraneous variables that affect attitudes haven’t been controlled e.g., other mental illnesses like depression

Question 5

What was the conclusion of the study?

Answer 5

• Western TV characters which act as role models for Fijian girls, pressurising them to imitate the slim appearance
• Girls didn’t understand unreal nature of media images
• TV brought an interest in dieting that was not present originally

Question 6

What are 2 strengths of an independent measures design?

Answer 6

• Less order effects as 2 groups of participants are used, so participants are less likely to experience fatigue etc
• Less demand characteristics as participants will only be doing one condition so therefore will be less likely to work out the aim and act in a way which they think they should

Question 7

What are 2 weaknesses of an independent groups design?

Answer 7

• A larger sample of participants is required due to there being 2 separate groups, so finding participants would be difficult and time-consuming
• There will be participant variables between both groups which aren’t controlled, therefore individual differences in attitudes may affect results

Question 8

What are 2 strengths of using questionnaires?

Answer 8

• Can gain a large variety of responses quickly as the questionnaire can be sent out to many people at any one time
• Participant responses may be more truthful as they aren’t speaking their opinions/ attitudes directly to someone

Question 9

What are 2 weaknesses of using questionnaires?

Answer 9

• Participants may not return questionnaire responses after completion meaning that less data will be obtained
• Respondent bias as participants may fill out the questionnaire with demand characteristics, therefore creating inaccurate data about their attitudes