Becker Et Al Study (socio)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate if the introduction of TV would lead to an inccrease in disordered eating attitudes and behaviours among Figian teenage girls.

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

• two samples of Figian school girls (approx 60 participants from 16-18 years old)
• first group in 1995 only a few weeks after TV was introduced, given EAT-26 a standardized test to determine eating attitudes (weight and heigh measured
• second group in 1998, three years later, same procedure, also asked questions about dieting practice, body image, difference in generational values
• semi-structures interviews used to confirm results if there was binging and/or purging behaviours

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• significant difference in scores of groups (avg score of 1995 was 20% while avg score of 1998 was 30%
• no pruging behaviours in 1995, by 1998 approx 10% of those with EAT-26 scored over 20
• in 1995, dieting was rare, but in 1998 qpprox 70% od partcipants reported that tey ad dieted to lose weight, approx 30% felt their parents’ generation wated them to consume too much food
• interviews revealed participants admired TV personalities and wanted to alter their looks t be more similar to them (also revelaed that there was a little awareness that TV images are heavily edited)

Question 4

Strengths

Answer 4

• high ecological validity

Question 5

Limitations

Answer 5

• Data was self-reported, no diagnosis
• EAT-26 test is a western test
• two samples did not have same participnats
• difficult to isolate the variable of television viewing (no record of hours watched)

Question 6

Ethical Considerations

Answer 6

• Protection from harm (using the EAT-26 test could have exposed the girls to additional unhealthy attitudes in 1995 and influencee their scores in 19998)

Question 7

Research Method

Answer 7

• Natural experiment