Stephen G. Sapp

Reliability and Validity of Nutrition Knowledge and Diet-Health Awareness Tests Developed from the 1989–1991 Diet and Health Knowledge Surveys

Abstract The purpose of this study was to develop tests for measuring nutrition knowledge and diet-health awareness using items appearing in the 1989—1991 Diet and Health Knowledge Surveys. The development and evaluation of these tests relied upon estimates of their reliability and their discriminant, convergent, correspondence, and representative validity. The reliability estimates for the 23-item nutrition knowledge test were less than 0.70 for all three surveys.The reliability estimates for the 27-item diet-health awareness test were greater than 0.70 for all three surveys. Both tests received support for discriminant and convergent validity.The correspondence validity of both tests with three measures of dietary quality was low. Implications are made for further research on tests of nutrition knowledge and knowledge structures and for the relationships of these constructs to dietary behavior.

Understanding the Gender Gap in Small Business Success Urban and Rural Comparisons

The authors explore how urban versus rural community location shapes the extent to which various individual, relational, and structural factors affect the gender gap in small business success. Building on previous research on gender and small business success, gender queuing theories, and gendered organization/institution theories, they develop a place-specific theory of the gender gap in small business success. The findings, based on small business data collected in urban and rural Iowa (1995 and 1997), support queuing arguments and raise questions about the effectiveness of crowded-sector explanations. They indicate that the gender gap in small business success operates such that men-owned businesses are more successful in both urban and rural settings but that men-owned businesses are even more successful than women-owned businesses in urban than rural communities. The authors discuss the causes and consequences of the gender gap in small business success in rural and urban places and identify key issues for further research.

Impact of nutritional knowledge within an expanded rational expectations model of beef consumption

Abstract The relative impact of nutritional knowledge on beef-eating intentions and behavior is examined with respect to attitudinal and social support constructs. Additionally, models for males and females are contrasted to determine whether or not the structure of cognitive relationships differs by gender. A convenience sample of 141 adult households completed a self-administered questionnaire containing items measuring nutritional knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, influences of significant others, subjective norms, social acceptability, and intentions and frequency of beef consumption. These constructs are used to examine structural relationships within an expanded version of the Fishbein-Ajzen rational expectations model. The expanded model is evaluated by using LISREL procedures that allow for simultaneous estimation of measurement and structural relationships when using latent variables. The results show that although nutritional knowledge is not directly related to intentions, behavior, or attitudes, it is significantly correlated with social support constructs that do influence intentions and behavior. These findings suggest that nutrition education programs should seek to link knowledge attainment and application with socially desirable consequences as well as with beliefs and attitudes. Cognitive structures for males and females are similar, which implies that any particular nutrition education program should be equally effective for both groups.

RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF A BRIEF VERSION OF LEVENSON'S LOCUS OF CONTROL SCALE

A 9-item locus of control scale was constructed from Levensons (1974) 24-item locus of control scale. Principal components and second-order factor analyses of responses from 129 undergraduates indicated satisfactory reliability and construct validity of the reduced scale. Structural equation analysis using a scaled measure of perceived risk supported the predictive validity of the reduced scale.

Community and managerial predictors of performance in small rural US retail and service firms

Abstract Conducting business in todays rural community environment offers social and economic promise along with uncertainty in facing the phenomenon of having fewer customers, who make fewer visits, and spend less per visit. This research highlights the importance of both community and managerial factors to performance evaluations of small rural retail and service firm owners. Using path analysis, direct and indirect effects on perceptual and financial performance were identified for a national US sample of 275 rural small-sized retail and service businesses. This study provides information from largely successful firms for developing marketing strategies and product/service offerings as a crucial step in assisting businesses in rural communities.

Leadership emergence in task groups with egalitarian gender-role expectations.

Although they differ in their explanations of the antecedents of gender-role expectations, gender role and expectation states theories agree that mixed-sex and initially leaderless task groups will confirm these expectations by selectively reinforcing male task participation and leadership emergence. Based upon this assumption held in common by the two theories, we hypothesized that groups whose members expressed significantly egalitarian gender-role expectations would reinforce male and female task participation and leadership emergence impartially. Analysis of data from 31 mixed-sex groups whose members expressed significantly egalitarian gender-role expectations, and who were racially and ethnically homogeneous, found that males participated more in group discussions and were more likely to be selected as task leaders. Male advantages were explained only partly by token effects and their advantages in task resources. Implications are suggested for theories of male and female role performance in initially leaderless groups.

Social demographic and attitudinal determinants of consumer acceptance of food irradiation

The effects of eleven social demographic and attitudinal variables on four measures of acceptance of food irradiation were evaluated in a laboratory experiment. Subjects were presented with balanced information on food irradiation and allowed to discuss the process to simulate the effects of word-of-mouth on acceptance. Trust in government and industry was found to be the most important predictor of all four dependent variables, including participation on a taste panel for irradiated chicken meat. Implications of the findings for consumer education are presented.

Examination of the Health-Belief Model to Predict the Dietary Quality and Body Mass of Adults

We examined the ability of the health-belief model to predict individuals dietary quality and body mass among a nationwide sample of 1319 adults in the United States. Simultaneous estimation of the structural equation model found acceptable goodness-of-fit to the data. Explained variance in dietary quality and body mass, however, were moderate to weak. The model included three types of nutrition knowledge: basic facts, diethealth awareness and ability to accurately self-assess nutrient intake. None of these variables had a strong effect on dietary quality or body mass. We speculate that lifestyle characteristics, cultural habits, community infrastructure, and the politics of food production and retailing variables found in other studies to affect dietary quality and body mass yet not available in our data might outweigh the effects of nutrition knowledge and sociodemographic factors on estimating dietary quality and body mass. We suggest that future research and intervention programmes focus more on social, cultural and political context than on nutrition knowledge. Current collaborations among life and social scientists to design foods to improve human nutrition might also prove effective in reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Science Communication and the Rationality of Public Opinion Formation

Because research indicates that people’s value orientations significantly affect their opinions about advanced technologies some risk scholars argue that technology policy should reflect the recommendations of experts rather than the opinions of a value-driven public. This suggested approach might be bolstered to the extent that people use substantive (value-driven) rather than formal (reason-driven) rationality when assessing the recommendations of experts. We found evidence that people’s opinions are indeed influenced strongly by their substantive rationality. We nevertheless argue that technology policy formation should rely more rather than less upon public opinions, thereby encouraging further efforts at improving science communication theory and practice.

Japanese consumer preferences for processed pork

Results of a consumer survey mailed to 3,000 households provide information on Japanese preferences for processed pork products. The survey addresses consumer attitudes, buying habits, taste and quality preferences, and the influence of advertising, significant others, and social support systems on processed pork consumption. Health, taste, and quality factors are crucial elements in providing the Japanese consumer with appealing products. The Japanese are especially wary of food additives and preservatives, and prefer products that are low in fat content. Meeting Japanese preferences for taste and quality of processed pork products is essential for successful exporting.