Becker et al (2002) - learning theories contemporary

Description

15 cards
Ella Middlemiss
Flashcards by Ella Middlemiss, updated more than 1 year ago
Ella Middlemiss
Created by Ella Middlemiss almost 7 years ago
7
0

Resource summary

Question Answer
Aim To investigate the effect of prolonged exposure of TV on attitudes to eating and eating behaviours in Fijian adolescent girls
Experimental design Naturalistic = IV is naturally occurring. Cross-sectional = looks at a group of individuals within a set period of time. Multi-wave = several different measurements being made. Prospective = a study that begins at the starting point of a change and tracks development over time.
Ppts 2 separate groups of adolescent females from Nadroga Fiji. 1995 = 63 girls (several weeks before intro of TV to Fiji) 1998 = 65 girls (different sample 3 years later)
Key Question Would exposure to TV, which introduced images from the developed world (mainly USA) have an effect on the traditional values and eating habits associated with Fijian culture?
What are the traditional values and eating habits of Fijian culture? Namely a preference for a robust body, the encouragement of robust appetites and a widespread vigilance for and social response to weight loss.
Procedure - quantitative Both groups completed a modified version of the EAT-26 Survey (likert) that investigates binging & purging behaviours. A score of 20 on this scale was deemed high - indicates a disordered attitude towards food.
Procedure - qualitative (both samples) Those who scored above 20 were asked to take part in a semi-structured interview.
Procedure - qualitative (2nd sample in 1998) Further questions asked on body image and dieting as well as questions to determine any disparities between themselves and their parents concerning weight and diet. A varied subset of 30 girls from the 65 with a range of disordered eating habits and behaviours were followed up with an interview that included probing open-ended questions aimed at investigating practises concerning weight and diet.
Results - quantitative 2 SDs found between 1995 & 1998 girls. Number of girls with EAT-26 score above 20 doubled (from 12.7% to 29.2%). Proportion of sample that used self-induced vomiting as a means of weight control increased from 0% to 11.3%. Body dissatisfaction also increased, with significantly more reporting that they thought they should eat less.
Results - qualitative - first theme found An admiration for characters seen on TV - imitating role models, changing hair style, choice of clothes etc. 83% felt that TV had changed the way they and their friends looked at their bodies, with 77% saying that TV had influenced their body image.
Results - qualitative - second theme found A belief that eating less might improve their career prospects. 40% justified their desire to eat less and lose weight as a means of improving career prospects. 30% indicated that TV characters served as role models concerning work/ career issues.
Results - qualitative - third theme found An awareness of generation differences in attitude towards eating, with parents feeling that girls should eat more and the girls feeling they should eat less.
Conclusion Becker concluded that, in Fiji, the introduction of TV influenced changes to eating attitudes in women, which ran counter to traditional attitudes towards eating and body image that had previously dominated within that culture.
Strengths EAT-26 is an established survey - inter-rater reliability. Triangulation - increased validity. Useful application - influence of media on eating disorders and treatments. Fairly ethical.
Weaknesses Self-report - social desirability/ DC. Low levels of control - low internal validity/ not scientific Low mundane realism. IV is naturally occurring - low replicability and reliability. Low generalisability - gender bias, culture bias, age bias, small sample. Ethics - embarrasment & socially sensitive
Show full summary Hide full summary

Similar

History of Psychology
mia.rigby
Biological Psychology - Stress
Gurdev Manchanda
Bowlby's Theory of Attachment
Jessica Phillips
Psychology subject map
Jake Pickup
Psychology A1
Ellie Hughes
Memory Key words
Sammy :P
Psychology | Unit 4 | Addiction - Explanations
showmestarlight
The Biological Approach to Psychology
Gabby Wood
Chapter 5: Short-term and Working Memory
krupa8711
Cognitive Psychology - Capacity and encoding
T W
Psychology and the MCAT
Sarah Egan