Publication Date

1990

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Parham, Ellen S.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Human and Family Resources

LCSH

Children--Nutrition--Psychological aspects; Nutrition--Study and teaching

Abstract

Studies have focused on the food intake of adolescents and their sources of nutrient information. Little research has been completed with regard to factors affecting the preadolescent's acceptance of nutrition education materials. The purpose of this study was to determine whether preadolescents were influenced by source credibility when evaluating printed nutrition materials. One hundred forty-two preadolescents participated in the study. The sample included 84 males and 58 females. All were seventh-grade junior high school students from a midwestern state. Three nutrition pamphlets were developed for testing, one comparison and two experimental-. The experimental pamphlets varied only in the stated credentials of the authors, Scientific Authority and Successful Athlete. All subjects read the comparison pamphlet and one experimental pamphlet in a controlled environment. The order of presentation of the pamphlets was balanced. After reading each pamphlet, subjects responded to an evaluative questionnaire using a Likert-type scale. Data treatment included ANOVA and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Using the differences between the questionnaire scores on the experimental pamphlet and the comparison pamphlet as the dependent variable, no effect of treatment, order, sex, or interaction between these variables was found. The major factor influencing the scores seemed to be an individualized response to the process, reflected in the high association of comparison and experimental scores.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages 25-27)

Extent

v, 68 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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