Contemporary study: Becker et al. (2002)

Question 1

Evaluate Becker et al.

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Answer 1

^Int reliability, reliable procedures. Rivas et al found good int reliability for EAT-26 - correlation of +.9 for each item and overall result (where +1.0 is perfect reliability).

Unrepresentative sample. Fiji traditionally has distinctive attitudes to body type (^BMI’s = attractive). Clash between Fijian cultural norms and those portrayed on American TV were much ^than in most countries

Modelling in mass media = has - impact on body image. Applied to advice for TV advertising, understand value of ‘larger size’ models. Treatments for eating disorders, if behaviour can be learnt through modelling, unlearned same way

Question 2

What was Becker’s aim?

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Answer 2

• Investigate impact of Western attitudes on eating behaviours of teenage girls

Question 3

What was Becker’s procedure?

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Answer 3

• 1 group questioned when TV introduced to Fiji, other group 3yrs later
• Eating behaviour measured by questionnaire/general attitudes to eating/body image (semi-s interview)
• 63 Fijian girls mean age 17 (1995)
• 65 girls still at school same age (1998)
• Interviewed, completed EAT-26
• 1998 group asked +q’s
• Girls scored ^threshold for dysfunctional eating (EAT-26) = further interviews

Question 4

What did Becker find?

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Answer 4

• Weight didn’t differ between 2 groups

- ^Television viewing: 41% (1995), 71% (1998) having TV at home

Question 5

What did Becker conclude?

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Answer 5

• Role models (in western TV) = Fiji girls desire much thinner bodies