Date of Award

1983

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine behavioral changes in Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) participants in East Baton Rouge Parish. The categories studied included: (1) knowledge of nutrition, (2) food purchase, (3) food storage and sanitation, (4) food and meal planning, and (5) food preparation. A stratified sample of five nutrition aides was selected. The aides ranged from limited to exceptional ability to teach. Eighty EFNEP homemakers who had participated in the program for a minimum of six months were included. Sixteen homemakers were selected randomly from each aide's list of homemakers. A food behavior checklist was the instrument used for the study. The Extension Service, USDA; seven State Cooperative Extension Services; and Synectics Corporation developed and validated the checklist. The pretest was the food behavior checklist the nutrition aide completed when each homemaker first enrolled in the program. The posttest was the checklist the researcher completed on the homemaker at the time of the study. The homemaker responded to the checklist in terms of NA (not applicable), DK (don't know), yes, and no. The NA column was not included in the analysis of data. Values given on the response columns included: DK (3), Yes (2), and No (1). Both the pretests and posttests were scored by the researcher, and the data collected were classified into frequency distributions. Data were analyzed by the test for correlated groups, utilizing the single group method. The statement of the hypothesis was: there were no significant differences in food-nutrition behavioral changes of EFNEP homemakers in East Baton Rouge Parish. The null hypothesis was accepted or rejected at the .05 level. The results were as follows: (1) There have been no significant changes in recommended knowledge of nutrition behaviors. (2) There have been no significant changes in recommended food purchase behaviors. (3) There have been significant changes in recommended food storage and sanitation behaviors. (4) There have been no significant changes in recommended food and meal planning behaviors. (5) There have been significant changes in recommended food preparation behaviors. (6) There have been significant changes in the total food behavior scores.

Pages

68

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_disstheses.3854

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