Watch and Weight Kaitlyn Bowman
Question Could the size and shape of a person in an advertisement alter adolescent opinions of the product and of their own personal appearances?
Rationale The media portrays “normal” people to be below normal body weight Men are less likely to have body image issues Advertisements directly affects self-esteem Media images are altered
Background Research Eating disorders and the media Body image in adolescent males and females The top rated advertisements of 2010 Studies on eating disorders Specialists’ views on the media
Hypothesis If eleventh grade males and females watch three video advertisements, then the females will more be judgmental of themselves and the person in the advertisement than males.
Materials Three video advertisements with females Three video advertisements with males 10 eleventh grade females 10 eleventh grade males Computer Questionnaires
Questionnaire Please circle or write your answer on the provided lines. 1.Explain you reaction to the first video clip advertisement. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.How would you describe the person in the first advertisement? a. Very thin, fit, and from a magazine cover. b. Average body size, has a healthy appearance, and looks like a real person. c. Above normal body size, has a different appearance, looks like a real person. 3.Explain you reaction to the second video clip advertisement. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 4.How would you describe the person in the second advertisement? a. Very thin, fit, and from a magazine cover. b. Average body size, has a healthy appearance, and looks like a real person. c. Above normal body size, has a different appearance, looks like a real person. 5.Explain you reaction to the third video clip advertisement. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 6.How would you describe the person in the third advertisement? a. Very thin, fit, and from a magazine cover. b. Average body size, has a healthy appearance, and looks like a real person. c. Above normal body size, has a different appearance, looks like a real person 7.How would you describe your personal body and appearance? Did your opinion about your body change after watching the video clips? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 8.Overall, which advertisement do you believe did the best job at selling the product? a. Clip #1 b. Clip #2 c. Clip # 3
Procedures 1.Create questionnaire 2.Find 6 videos of advertisements 3.Meet with a student 4.Show the advertisements 5.Have the student fill out questionnaire 6.Repeat for other students 7.Record the data 8.Compare the results from the males and females
Variables
Data
Analysis Males and females do notice different body sizes in the media Females prefer to see above average size females Males prefer below average size males Students body image was not affected
Conclusion Rejected the hypothesis expecting females to be more judgmental of the person in the advertisement and on their personal body image, compared to the expected minimal judgment and body image of males. Students observe different body types in the media Students do not let it affect their body image
Factors that Affected the Results
Changes and Further Research