Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1991

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Economics

Major Professor

Jacquelyn McInnis

Committee Members

Gail Disney, Randol Waters

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate food and nutrition knowledge and misconceptions among homemakers in Sequatchie County. Tennessee. The final sample was composed of 121 homemakers, about half of which were Extension Homemaker Council Club members and the other half non-members, chosen randomly for comparison group purposes. The homemakers returned a mailed questionnaire developed to measure knowledge/misconception level, frequent sources of information, interest level in specific food and nutrition related areas, and certain demographic information. The homemaker was described according to participation in an Extension Homemaker Council Club, age, level of education, science related courses taken in school, source of information used in specific areas, and level of interest in specific areas. The level of knowledge/misconception scores were described along with those areas most subject to perpetration of misinformation. Relationships were examined between knowledge/misconception scores and sources of information used by homemakers. Correlations between the knowledge/misconception subscores in certain areas and the level of interest by the homemaker in that area were examined.

The study revealed that the majority of the homemakers surveved were age 50 and over and had a high school education. The science related course taken by most of the homemakers was home economics. The most frequently used source of information in Diet and Weight watching and in Diet in Relation to Disease was a medical doctor or nurse. For Food and Nutrients Needed by the Body and for Food Safety, the source used most frequently was the extension agent. Food and the Athlete, magazines were used most often. Homemakers were most interested in Diet in Relation to Disease and least interested in Diet and the Athlete. They scored highest in the area of Food and Nutrients Needed By the Body and lowest in the area of Food and the Athlete.

The main and interactive effects of several variables were examined for their effect on the dependent variable, knowledge/ misconception score. Participation in an Extension Homemaker Council Club had a positive effect on scores for almost all tests conducted. The number of science related courses taken in school had a positive main effect with home economics and chemistry making the most difference on knowledge/misconception score. There was a significant relationship between the score and the source of information used in the areas of Diet and Weight Watching and Diet in Relation to Disease. There were no interactive effects on knowledge/ misconception score between the variables studied. No correlation was found between knowledge/misconception score and level of interest in that particular area.

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