contemporary study: Becker et al. (2002): eating behaviours and attitudes following prolonged exposure to television among ethnic Fijian adolescent girls

Question 1

background

Answer 1

• the study was carried out by Dr Anne Becker, an anthropologist
• anthropology is the study of other cultures
• Becker wanted to investigate the link between TV and the growth of eating disorders
• she studied the culture of Fiji since the 1980s
• the opportunity arose when a Fijian TV station began broadcasting in the 1990s, allowing her to study TV’s effect on the islanders

Question 2

what was the aim and key question of Becker’s study on television and eating disorders in Fiji?

Answer 2

• the aim was to study the effects of television on eating disorders in Fiji
• Fiji had no previous media influence, making it a naturalistic experiment
• eating disorders are more common in industrialised countries, suggesting a role for culture
• the key question: “would exposure to television (mainly from the US) affect traditional Fijian values and eating habits, such as a preference for a robust body and weight loss vigilance?”

Question 3

what was the sample used in Becker’s study on television and eating disorders?

Answer 3

• 63 girls (average age 17) in 1995, shortly after television was introduced
• another group of 65 girls from the same school in 1998, 3 years after television’s introduction

Question 4

what type of data was collected in Becker’s study on television and eating disorders?

Answer 4

• qualitative data was gathered
• this data took the form of stories about feelings and behaviours related to the introduction of television

Question 5

what tool was used to assess eating attitudes in Becker’s study?

Answer 5

• the EAT-26 questionnaire was used
• it contained 26 items about eating attitudes
• a score of 20 or above indicated high eating disorder risk

Question 6

what method was used to gather more in-depth data in Becker’s study?

Answer 6

• semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30/65 girls who showed disordered eating attitudes
• questions focused on body image, dieting, and television habits in the household

Question 7

what statistical and analytical methods were used in Becker’s study?

Answer 7

• a chi-squared test was used
• thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative data

Question 8

what were the key findings from Becker’s study on television and eating disorders?

Answer 8

• 41.3% of the sample in 1995 had a television, compared to 70.8% in 1998, showing a growth in television watching
• 12.7% in 1995 had an EAT-26 score over 20, compared to 29.2% in 1998 (significant difference found with chi-square test)
• 0% in 1995 reported self-induced vomiting to control weight, compared to 11.3% in 1998 (significant difference with chi-square test)
• qualitative data showed a desire to imitate television characters in terms of clothing, hairstyle, and body reshaping
• 83% of the interviewed sample felt television influenced how they and their friends viewed their bodies
• 77% stated television had influenced their body image

Question 9

what were the conclusions of Becker’s study on television and eating disorders in Fiji?

Answer 9

• the introduction of television influenced changes in eating attitudes, but there was only an association between television ownership and dieting behaviour, not enough evidence to prove causation
• Western TV characters acted as role models for Fijian girls, making them feel pressure to imitate slim appearances
• many girls didn’t understand the unreal nature of media images (e.g., actors losing weight for roles, using personal trainers)
• Becker concluded that TV brought an interest in dieting to Fiji, which had no prior incidence of eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia

Question 10

generalisability - strength + CA

Answer 10

• the sample size was in the 60s, which is good for averaging out anomalies
• however, it is still a small sample relative to the entire population of Fiji (850,000 in 1995)
  
  • to draw conclusions about Fijian teens as a whole, a larger sample would have been more representative

Question 11

reliability - strengths

Answer 11

• the study had standardised procedures and was carefully documented
  
  • the EAT-26 questionnaire, used in both groups, is widely-used and reliable across cultures
  • a score over 20 on the questionnaire meant the same thing in 1995 and 1998
  • this demonstrates test-retest reliability
• the interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed
  
  • this allows other researchers to review and assess what the girls said
  • this is an example of inter-rater reliability

Question 12

reliability - weakness

Answer 12

• the EAT-26 may not reliably detect all eating disorders
  
  • eg, binge-eating is an unhealthy behaviour, but a binge-eater may still score low on the EAT-26

Question 13

application

Answer 13

• the study highlights the need for more health spending in Fiji
  
  • health workers can use the findings to address rising issues like eating disorders, depression, and suicide
  • Becker’s study suggests these issues may become more common as a result of television exposure

Question 14

validity - weakness EAT-26

Answer 14

• only 29.2% (19 girls) scored dangerously high on the EAT-26 questionnaire, less than a third of the sample
• 8 girls (12.7%) scored that high in 1995, despite Becker’s claims that dieting and eating problems were ”unheard of” in Fiji
• this suggests there were already issues with dieting among schoolgirls, and TV might not be the main factor in causing eating disorders

Question 15

validity - weakness natural exp

Answer 15

• it is a natural exp, where the iv (TV) was not manipulated
• many other changes in Fijian society were likely happening alongside the introduction of television
• this makes it difficult to be certain that TV is the cause of the reported changes in behaviour

Question 16

validity - weakness independent groups

Answer 16

• the study used an independent groups design, which means the two groups were not exactly the same
• although the groups were the same age, size, and from the same schools, they still might have differed
• it would have been better to use a repeated measures design, following the same girls over 3 years to track their changes

Question 17

ethics - weakness

Answer 17

• Dr Becker and her team were not specialists in eating disorders and lacked the expertise to diagnose anorexia
• competency is crucial in research to avoid misleading ppts into thinking they have a medical problem
• giving ppts the impression of having a serious disorder when they only have unhealthy dieting habits would be unethical, showing a lack of social responsibility and failure to mitigate risk