Mixed Methods in Food Risk Perception

Posted: 21 Nov 2011 Last revised: 24 Nov 2011

See all articles by Jean Kennedy

Jean Kennedy

University College Dublin (UCD) - Geary Institute

Aileen McGloin

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Aisling Nolan

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Eibhlin M. Hudson

Trinity College (Dublin); University College Dublin (UCD) - Geary Institute

Hannah Hale

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Liam Delaney

University College Dublin (UCD) - Geary Institute and Department of Economics

Pat Wall

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: November 21, 2011

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that obesity levels have increased more dramatically among young men (Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance Teenager Study 2008, unpublished results) and that they are more ‘at risk’ from unsafe handling and preparation practices than other socio-demographic groups.

Gender and education level have been identified as stratifying groupings with males and those with lower levels of education having less knowledge about safe food practices(2,3,4) and poorer-quality eating habits. With this specific population subgroup in mind, the aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of young Irish males towards nutrition and food safety.

Ten focus-group interviews (n=80) with young men from apprentice colleges (Irish National Training and Employment Authority) in the Dublin area were carried out and analysed using Atlas.ti (Atlas.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH, Berlin, Germany). Concurrently, >300 young apprentices (259 males, seventy-eight females) completed a questionnaire about nutrition and food safety knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, and data were analysed using SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Themes that emerged in both the food nutrition and safety focus groups were: ‘myths’, ‘awareness’, ‘risk’ and ‘responsibility’.

Suggested Citation

Kennedy, Jean and McGloin, Aileen and Nolan, Aisling and Hudson, Eibhlin M. and Hale, Hannah and Delaney, Liam D. and Wall, Pat, Mixed Methods in Food Risk Perception (November 21, 2011). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1962577

Jean Kennedy

University College Dublin (UCD) - Geary Institute ( email )

University College Dublin
Belfield, Dublin Dublin 4
Ireland

Aileen McGloin

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Aisling Nolan

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Eibhlin M. Hudson (Contact Author)

Trinity College (Dublin)

2-3 College Green
Dublin, 00000
Ireland

University College Dublin (UCD) - Geary Institute ( email )

University College Dublin
Belfield, Dublin Dublin 4
Ireland

Hannah Hale

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Liam D. Delaney

University College Dublin (UCD) - Geary Institute and Department of Economics ( email )

Newman Building (Room G215)
Belfield, Dublin 4
Ireland

Pat Wall

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
764
PlumX Metrics