Becker et al (2002)

Question 1

Aim:

Answer 1

Understand if the introduction of television in Fiji would lead to an increase in disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among Fijian adolescent girls in secondary school

Question 2

Research Method:

Answer 2

Natural experiment

Question 3

Why Fiji?

Answer 3

The Fijian culture values having a large appetite and a larger body mass. It is not seen as unattractive, rather desirable. Therefore, seeing how this culture would be distorted/changed by globalization in the form of the introduction of Western television would be interesting.

Question 4

Sample

Answer 4

2 samples of Fijian school girls aged between 16 and 18.

Question 5

Procedure

Answer 5

There were 2 testing phases, with one group of sample being used in each. Very shortly after television was introduced (1995), and then a few years later (1998).

The girls were given a standardized test to determine eating attitudes. After completion of the test, semi-structured interviews were conducted as a member check. Finally, they also took height and weight measurements.

Question 6

Results + Findings

Answer 6

Significant difference in the EAT-26 scores between the 2 samples from different time periods. The sample in 1998 reported higher average EAT-26 scores compared to the 1995 sample. Furthermore, in 1995 dieting was rare, however in 1998 more than 50% of the sample reported that they had dieted to lose weight because a majority of them felt that they were too big because of television (a form of globalization) shifting their views of body image.

Question 7

2 advantages of the study

Answer 7

Natural experiment = High ecological validity

Using both standardized test + semi-structured interviews adds depth to findings = Higher credibility

Question 8

2 disadvantages

Answer 8

• Etic approach in using Western tests overlooks cultural differences
• Difficult to replicate = Low reliability
• Different samples used between conditions = Participants variability which can affect the results.