EDU 6982 – EDUCATIONAL INQUIRY

DR. KAREN SMITH, INSTRUCTOR

Nutrition Group Research ProposalGroup Members: Kimberly Robinson, Jessica Rottweiler, Kathe Sehmsdorf,

Nick West

Research Topic

Topic: Nutrition and Impact on Academic Performance

Question: Is there a correlation between dietary nutrition and performance on the IOWA Basic Skills Test?

Research Hypothesis

Hypothesis: There is a positive

correlation between dietary nutrition

levels and academic performance.

Variables and Population

Independent: Dietary Nutrition Levels (Food Choice Inventory)

Dependent: Academic Performance (IOWA Test of Basic Skills)

Population: 11th graders (middle income) in Washington state

Review of LiteratureEffect of a 12 month micronutrient intervention on learning and memoryin well nourished and marginally nourished school-aged children: 2parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled studies in Australia andIndonesia. (2007)

Experimental Tested:

Mix of micronutrients – marked improvements on verbal learning and memory

Fatty acids - inconclusive

Micronutrients and fatty acids – same as above, fatty acids = no effect

Control (placebo)

Review of Literature

The impact of a two-year breakfast program for preschool-aged children on their nutrient intake and pre-academic performance. (1999)

Experimental Tested:

Effect of School Breakfast Program on cognitive performance

Conclusion: Nutritionally balance breakfast has positive impact on cognitive performance

Review of Literature

Effects of Nutrient Intake on Task Performance in a Sample of Inner-City Elementary School Children (2001)

Non-experimental

Conclusion: Food stamp recipients eat more poorly as the month progresses and academic performance coincides

Subjects & Sampling Procedures

Subjects: 500 - 11th grade (middle income) public school students

in WA state from rural, urban and suburban school districts

Sampling: #1 – Convenience (districts in WA that administer ITBS) #2 - Stratified Random Sampling (urban, suburban, rural) #3– Volunteer Participants (school administrator permission) #4– Middle Income Survey respondents selected

Instrumentation

ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills)

Food Choice Inventory Assesses food choice behaviors of junior and

senior high school students and adults. Survey question accounting for income

bracket

Quantitative Research Design

Non-experimental

Simple correlation

Learning Process

Originally Experimental Implementation of school lunch

Challenges: High cost Subject compliance Parental and school permission

Hair sample micronutrient level test Challenges:

Extremely high cost Subject compliance Parental and school permission

Learning Process Non-Experimental

Less costly No intervention necessary

What Design??? Original Design

multilevel logistic regression account for co-variance of socio-economic status with

dependent and independent variables

Current Design simple correlation

account for co-variance of income level status with dependent and independent variables more simply using middle income bracket as qualifier

References

The NEMO Study Group. (2007). Effect of a 12 month micronutrient intervention on learning and memory in well-nourished and marginally nourished school-aged children: 2 parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled studies in Australia and Indonesia. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 86(4), 1082-1093. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ824000) Retrieved January 22, 2009, from ERIC database.

Walingo, Mary K. and Musamali, Betty. (2008). Nutrient Intake and Nutritional Status Indicators of Participant and Nonparticipant Pupils of a Parent-Supported School Lunch Program in Kenya. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Vol. 40, No. 5, 298-304.

Florence, M.D., Asbridge, M. & Veugelers, P. (April 1, 2008). Diet Quality and Academic Performance. Journal of School Health, 78(4), 209-215 (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ812000) Retrieved

January 30, 2009, from ERIC database. Worobey, John, Rutgers U & Worobey, Harriet S. (1999). The impact of a

two-year breakfast program for preschool-aged children on their nutrient intake and pre-academic performance. Child Study Journal, Vol29 (2), 113-131 ((ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ 0009-4005) Retrieved February 3, 2009, from ERIC database.

References Worobey, J., Worobey, H. S., Johnson, E. & Hamm, M. (2001, Apr. 21).

Effects of Nutrient Intake on Task Performance in a Sample of Inner City Elementary School Children. Society for Research in Child Development Conference.

Wyon, D. P., Abrahamsoson, L., Jartelius, M. & Fletcher, R. J. (1997). An experimental study of the effects of energy intake at breakfast on the test performance of 10-year-old children in school. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, (48), 5-12.

Voiland, A. (November 3, 2008). Rethinking School Lunch. U.S. News & World Report, 145(10), 65.

Taras, H. & Potts-Datema, W. (October 2005). Obesity and Student Performance at School. Journal of School Health, 75(8), 291-295

Pollit, E. & Mathews, R. (1998). Breakfast and cognition: An integrative summary. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 67(4), 804-813.

Cromer, B.A., Tarnowski, K.T., Stein, A.M, Harton, P. & Thornton, D.J. (1990). The school breakfast program and cognition in adolescence.

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 11 (6), 295-300.