Becker Study - Biological Psychology PDF

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Complete lecture notes on the study of Becker et al 2002 on eating behaviors and attitudes following exposure to western media in fijian girls...

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Biological Classic Study

Becker et al (2002): Eating behaviours and attitudes following prolonged exposure to TV among ethnic Fijian adolescent girls AIM To investigate the effect of prolonged exposure of TV on attitudes to eating and eating behaviours in Fijian adolescent girls. PROCEDURE This was a naturalistic experiment- done in a natural environment, where the experimenter doesn’t manipulate the IV, and made use of a prospective multi-wave cross-sectional design. Prospective design is a study that begins at the starting point of a change and tracks development over time, looking forward instead of back (retrospective). Multi-wave, where there are several different measurements being used in the study. Cross-sectional is research that looks at a group of individuals within a set period, as opposed to longitudinal research where the same individuals are examined for a prolonged period. The first sample of 63 girls was studied in 1995, weeks before the TV was introduced to Fiji. A second different sample was taken of 65 girls was studied 3 years later in 1998. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to investigate the impact of culture on the feelings and attitudes of the participant’s, and their eating behaviours. The main question was: would exposure to TV, which introduced new images and programmes, mainly from the US, have an impact on the tradition Fijian views, encouragement of dieting and weight loss. This idea of dieting and weightless is often discouraged by Fijian culture. Initially both groups completed a modified version on the EAT-26 Survey, which is a widely used selfreport for the assessment of characteristics/ behaviours associated with eating disorders. This allowed quantitative data to be gained and a score of 20 was deemed high. Separate questions were asked about household ownership and TV viewing. Those who initially scored high were asked to participate in a semi-structured interview. In the second sample in 1998, more questions about body image and dieting was added as well as any questions to determine any differences between themselves and their parents concerning diet and weight. A varied subset of 30 girls from the original 65 were followed up with an interview including probing, open ended-questions aimed at investigating practices concerning weight and diet. RESULTS Two significant differences were found between the girls studied in 1995, before TV was introduced, and 1998, after TV was introduced. Firstly, the percentage of girls with an EAT-26 score of more than 20 doubled from 12.7% to 29.2% in 1998. Secondly, the proportion of the sample that used selfinduced vomiting for weight control grew from 0% in 1995 to 11.3% in 1998. Body dissatisfaction increased with more girls in 1998 reporting they thought they should eat less. Qualitative data collected followed several themes: •

An admiration for characters they had seen on TV, a tendency for women to imitate role models by changing their behaviour, hairstyle of clothing. 83% of the sample interviewed felt that television had influenced the way that they and their friends looked and their bodies, with 77% stating that TV had influenced their body image.

Biological Classic Study

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A belief that eating less might actually improve their career prospects as 40% of the sample justified their desire to eat less as a means of improving career prospects. In addition, 30% indicted that TV characters served as role models concerning work and careers. An awareness of generational differences towards eating, as the parents felt the girls should eat more, while the younger girls had a desire to eat less.

COCLUSION From this study Becker concluded that in Fiji TV had influences the attitudes in women towards eating and body image, which counter ran the traditional attitudes towards these subjects that had previously dominated that culture. EVALUATION Strengths of the study: 

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High reliability of findings, as Becker drew similar conclusions about the influence of media to previous studies, Lee 1998, Furham and Hussain, 1999. Yet is the first to do such study in a media-naïve culture Useful, as it can be used to press for more regulation of extreme body types in media today High ecological validity, study examines a naturally occurring event

Weaknesses of study:   

Low validity of diagnosis as EAT-26 survey not an official medical survey Sample- while participants in both samples were matched as closely as possible, were not directly comparable. Low generalisability- only 63 and 65 in samples, so not representative of whole Fijian population...