Social Psychology

The article titled “Storybooks Get Kids to Eat Their Veggies” (Gripshover, n.d.) is selected from the SPARQ website and summarizes a research article (Gripshover & Markman, 2013). The problem that the researchers are refering to is the child's obesity. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declare that during the past thirty years the norms of child's and adolescent's weight had increased more than twice (CDC, 2015). Moreover, obesity can cause both immediate and future health problems, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, or different types of cancer. Besides, these children suffer from low self-esteem and stigmatization that accomplish social and psychological obstacles. The current paper evaluates the main goals of the research article and examines methods and methodology with the correspondence to the ethical norms.

The importance of the issue deserves serious consideration, as well as possible solutions have to be seriously and broadly studied. Developmental psychologists Gripshover and Markman want to make contribution to the nation's present and future health. In the conducted experiment they are aimed to teach preschoolers to choose vegetable snacks and to argue the need to eat healthier food. The scientists designed five storybooks for the age of four and five that simply and colourfully depict the way the body uses the nutrients from food and how do they influence it's various functions.

During the next step, they divided 160 children into two groups. One group was supposed to read these books in a snack time for a three months. The other group had no changes in their schedule. After the mentioned period, the research team observed what children ate during the meal time. Eventually, they found that those who were working with the nutrition books chose approximately from four to nine pieces of vegetables (Gripshover, 2013). The rest of the children did not eat extra vegetables. The results also revel that children understand the process of digestion and the influence of different kinds of food on the body better. Having the curiosity in their nature, children are likey to learn to choose better products that is based on the studied information. Understanding of the digestion process and the food's influence can help to make deliberate actions towards personal health.

The purpose of further research is to assess the duration of such healthy choices during other mealtimes or at home. Moreover, this approach to the health education can contribute to other studies, for instance, behavioral approach to the nutrition.

The presented research article uses such methods as the experiment, comparative method and observation. Thus, the study of the issue was conducted with the help of designed technique, namely testing on the two groups of preschoolers held in a real time. The method of comparison and observation gives the information about the differences between two groups of children and the impact of the experiment on their food choice. The results of the test, as well as the distinctions between children were observed and examined during the snack time, which demonstrated the overview of vegetables consumption.

The outcomes of the experiment show that the research methodology was properly accomplished, and they also prove the connection between knowledge and actions. Furthermore, the difference in the results provides the posibility to observe the division of the children and the difference in their learning framework. However, the number of the participants can not depict the general view. The presented methodology can work better in combination with other studies of child's behaviour.

The technology that was described in the research article fulfils the main purpose of a study. The results of the test showed the direct relation between learning and establishment of a new pattern of behaviour. As can be seen in the results, the psychologists used the methods that were the most suitable for the study, such as experiment, comparison and observation.The research team observed children during their mealtime at school, when the new information was still actual and fresh. Evidently, children were more attached to the interesting facts that contributed to their awareness of the hidden processes of their body and nourished the primary curiosity sense. The information about their food choices at home or during another mealtime is left uncovered. Thus, this aspect diminishes the objectiveness of the research. That is why, there is the need to collect further information about child's nutrition behind the school walls. For this purpose, the interview or questioning of parents about the behaviour of their adolescence can be used.

The ethical norms of the study were accomplished, and the rights of the selected children were not infringed. The entire experiment was conducted in school where teachers were responsible for the pupils. The process of implementation of variations into the curriculum was not fast that gives the opportunity to master a new knowledge. The observation was held secretly and without children's disturbance during their mealtime at school. However, the parents were aware and consented for the experiment. As the study was implemented in school, children were not taken from their safe and familiar surrounding, that gave the opportunity to evaluate their natural common reactions and behaviour. The storybooks were designed according to the participant's age, developmental level, and were simple, vivid and comprehensive. Moreover, children showed interest to such material that made it easy to memorize.

In conclusion, it can be stated that the article depicts modern problem of nation's health and suggests the practical ways for its solution. The entire research process was conducted with the adherence to the ethical norms. The methods were chosen properly and contributed to the achievement of clear results of the experiment. The methodology that was used in the article is suitable for other behaviour related studies.