A Systematic Review of Data Collection Techniques Used to Measure Preschool Children's Knowledge of Food and Nutrition

Nicola Wiseman; Neil Harris

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2015.03.013

A Systematic Review of Data Collection Techniques Used to Measure Preschool Children's Knowledge of Food and Nutrition

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015 Jul-Aug;47(4):345-53.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2015.03.013. Epub 2015 May 11.

Authors

Nicola Wiseman¹, Neil Harris²

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Population and Social Health Research Program, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
² School of Medicine, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Population and Social Health Research Program, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: n.harris@griffith.edu.au.

PMID: 25975958
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2015.03.013

Abstract

Objective: To identify and review data collection techniques used to measure preschool children's knowledge of food and nutrition.

Design: A systematic review of published research guided by the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement.

Participants: Published journal articles between 1980 and 2013 reporting research involving the measurement of preschool children's (aged 3-5 years) knowledge of food and nutrition.

Results: Twenty studies were eligible for inclusion. The studies reported the use of a range of innovative age-appropriate techniques to assess children's knowledge of food and nutrition. Data collection techniques were grouped under 3 broad approaches: (1) interviews, (2) use of stimulus material and prompts, and (3) structured play-based activities. Only 3 of the reviewed studies tested for both reliability (test-retest and internal consistency) and face and content validity. Only 9 of the reviewed studies reported pilot-testing their instruments before use.

Conclusions and implications: Results from this review suggest that additional research is needed to develop more valid and reliable measures to assess preschool children's knowledge of food and nutrition. Assessment tools need to be pilot-tested, refined, and adapted to suit both the specific audience and the components of the nutrition knowledge being targeted by an intervention before implementing a nutrition education program.

Keywords: child–preschool; evaluation; food/classification; nutrition knowledge; systematic review.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Child, Preschool
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Nutrition Surveys / methods*
Nutrition Surveys / standards*
Students