Reference no: EM132855638 , Length: word count:800

HBS108 Health Information and Data - Deakin University

Assignment Task 1: Sourcing, Identifying and Evaluating Evidence

Consumption of fruit and vegetables: exploring data, research, and potential interventions

Question 1: Fruit and vegetable consumption in adolescents-Data collection

Questions 1 and 2 require you to access ABS data to summarise current levels of fruit and vegetable consumption among Australian adolescents and identify any patterns based on age and gender.

The ABS has released data from the 2017-18 National Health Survey, which includes data on fruit and vegetable consumption in adolescents. Please go to the ABS website and locate the following report:

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018, National Health Survey, First results methodology,

Using the ‘Explanatory Notes', please answer Questions 1(i)-(ii).

i. How was the data on adolescents collected?

ii. Which states/territories had the highest and lowest response rates?

Go to the ‘Glossary' and look up ‘Usual daily intake of vegetables' before answering the following question.

iii. For adolescents (we will refer here to those of ages 12-18), what was the definition of recommended fruit and vegetable intake? Define a serve and the number of serves recommended for each.

Question 2: Levels of fruit and vegetable consumption in adolescents - accessing and interpreting data from the ABS website

Question 2 requires you to download data in Microsoft Excel format from the ABS website. Please follow the instructions below. Using this link:

Go to the ‘Data downloads' section (see below) and unhide all tables.

Download ‘Table 17: Children's consumption of fruit, vegetables, and selected sugar sweetened and diet drinks-Australia' (see below).

Open this file in Microsoft Excel and click on the tab at the bottom for Table 17.3. This table provides age-specific data on a range of variables. In the following questions, please address issues regarding fruit consumption separately to vegetable consumption.

i. What percentage of adolescents aged 14-17 does not meet recommended intakes of fruit and of vegetables?

ii. For adolescents aged 14-17, are males or females at greater risk of inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption?

iii. Suppose you are a Health Promotion policy officer for the Australian Department of Health. Based on the ‘Background' section in this assignment, the information gained from Question 1, and the data in Table 17.3, please write a brief summary (100 words) on the issue of fruit and vegetable intake in adolescents. The summary should:
» Explain why adequate fruit and vegetable consumption is a public health issue.
» Provide current guidelines regarding fruit and vegetable consumption.
» Report current levels of fruit and vegetable consumption in adolescents (aged 9-17) with attention to differences by age and sex.
» Synthesise the information to a coherent and clear explanation.

Question 3: A further exploration of fruit and vegetable intake in Australian adolescents

Use the skills you developed in Topic 2 to locate the journal article cited below through the Deakin Library website and read the article carefully before answering Questions 3(i)-(iii).

Jongenelis, MI, Scully, M, Morley, B & Pratt, IS 2018, ‘Vegetable and fruit intake in Australian adolescents: Trends over time and perceptions of consumption', Appetite, vol. 129, pp. 49-54.

i. What were the aims of this study?

ii. What kind of study is this, quantitative or qualitative? (1 mark) What aspects of the study indicate that it is a quantitative or a qualitative study?

iii. What did the study find regarding levels of vegetable intake? Please refer to the percentage values in your answer (2 marks). Also, where any groups of particular concern according to the study?

Question 4: Understanding reasons for low fruit and vegetable consumption in Australian adolescents

Use the skills you developed in Topic 2 to locate the journal article cited below through the Deakin Library website and read the article carefully before answering Questions 4(i)-(iii).

Stephens, LD, McNaughton, SA, Crawford, D & Ball, K 2015, ‘Nutrition promotion approaches preferred by Australian adolescents attending schools in disadvantaged neighbourhoods: A qualitative study', BMC Pediatrics, vol. 15, no. 1, p. 61.

i. What was the aim of this study?

ii. List characteristics of this study that are consistent with it being a qualitative study.

iii. According to the authors, what was the unique contribution of this study?

Task C

Question 5: Research hypotheses and research questions addressing the topic of adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption
i. Develop a quantitative research hypothesis related to the topic of fruit and vegetable consumption that relates to the materials in the articles by Jongenelis et al. (2018) and Stephens et al. (2015). The research hypothesis should be clear and focused. Indicate the variables you would measure. (3 marks)

ii. Develop a qualitative research question related to the topic of fruit and vegetable consumption that relates to the materials in the articles by Jongenelis et al. (2018) and Stephens et al. (2016) and explain how you would seek to explore it. The research question should be clear and focused. (3 marks)

Hints for answering Questions 5(i) and (ii):
» Stating a research hypothesis in the form of a question does not necessarily mean that it is actually a qualitative research question. A qualitative research question is one that can be answered using qualitative study designs and methods rather than quantitative study designs and methods.

» The Topic 1 content, especially the seminar session, will assist with understanding the difference between quantitative research hypotheses and studies, and qualitative research questions and studies.

iii. Select either the research hypothesis or research question you developed in Question 5(i) or (ii). You must clearly state which one you have selected otherwise marks will be lost in this section. Use the skills you developed in Topic 2 to access the Deakin College e-resources (through the Deakin Library website) and conduct a search for a journal article that is relevant to your research question or hypothesis.
iv. Name the database(s) you searched in order to find the article.

v. Provide a full reference to this article (in the latest Deakin-Harvard style) here as your answer to this question.

Presentation and referencing [please follow the guidelines outlined on p. 6].

You are expected to use citations throughout the assignment. When you refer to specific data or information from an external source (e.g., ABS survey data, journal articles, or HBS108 Topic Content PDFs) you must reference them (in-text and, where appropriate, in a reference list at the end of the assignment) according to the latest Deakin-Harvard style.

Attachment:- Identifying and Evaluating Evidence.rar