Haselden 1

Lorraine Haselden
300 Columbia Ave. Chapin, SC 29036
The Correlation Between Watching Cartoons as a Child and Preference of Sugary Cereals

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Abstract
This project is relevant to todays society because it helps to combat the growing rate of obesity, which
affects 6 in 19 adolescents. This project will answer the question Is there a correlation between
watching television as a child and preferring sugary cereals as a high school student? The hypothesis for
this project is If a high school student watched television as child, then they will prefer cereals with high
sugar content as a high school student. A child will be defined an elementary aged-children, and cereals
with a high sugar content will be defined as cereals with 4 or more grams of sugar per serving. This
project will determine if this correlation exists through the distribution of surveys to randomized
homeroom classes at Chapin High School, and these responses will then be statistically analyzed by
calculating the correlation coefficient between these responses to see if it is significant.

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Table of Contents

Title..1
Abstract....2
Introduction..4
Materials and Methods.5
Results..6
Conclusion.......7
Appendix A..8
Acknowledgements10
References..11

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Introduction
The prevalence of people considered to be obese in America continues to rise and obesity
is beginning to become a bigger health problem. According to the National Institute of Health,
more than 6 in 19 adolescences are considered to be obese, and this ratio is growing every day.
Two possible causes of obesity are an inactive lifestyle and the consumption of foods with high
sugar and unsaturated fats (A.C)
This project seeks to determine if there is a correlation between watching cartoons as a
child and preferring cereals with high sugar content as a high school student. After research was
done to determine what would be considered a high sugar content, a nutritionist was contacted
and 4 grams or more per serving was decided to be the benchmark for high sugar content
(Chandra).
The data for this project was collected by distributing a survey to randomly selected
homeroom classes at Chapin High School during the month of November. The data was then
analyzed using a Chi Square 2-way test with advising from Mrs. Amy Taylor, a statistics teacher
from Chapin High School.

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Materials and Methods

First, background research was performed in order to determine if the project was relevant.
Next, experts in both business marketing and nutrition were contacted in order to gain
advisement on project and how the data should be collected. A concise, yet thorough survey
(survey is attached in Appendix A) was then written in order to determine whether or not the
high school student watched cartoons as a child, and which cereal they prefer. After the survey
was written, a home room class was randomly chosen from each grade level to distribute the
survey to. The surveys were answered and the responses were gathered. Next the results were
analyzed with help from Mrs. Taylor, a statistics teacher at Chapin High School in order to
determine if the hypothesis is correct.

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Results
There were 20 responses to the survey, and these de-identified responses can be found below. A chi
squared 2-way test was performed in order to determine if there was a correlation, and the p value was
0.49. A p value this high rejects the alternative hypothesis which was if high school students watched
cartoons as a child, then they will prefer cereals with high sugar content. The implications of these
findings will be discussed further in the conclusion.

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Conclusion
Since the p value was found to be 0.49, a correlation cannot be drawn between watching cartoons
as a child and preferring sugary cereals. This could be caused by a few factors, such as the lack
of data points, the high degrees of freedom, and the many factors that go into cereal preference.
The lack of data points is easily solved by distributing the survey to more randomized homeroom
classes which is a next step of this project. However not much can be done to remedy the other
two reasons for the high p-value because the high degrees of freedom are a function of the many
different cereal choices included in the survey and the many factors that go into cereal preference
cannot be taken away, and it would be difficult to account for all of these factors. Although the
results werent found to be significant, there is still a great deal of research that proves that both
an inactive lifestyle and bad eating habits lead to obesity.

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Appendix A

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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Mrs. Jeanna Moffet, Mrs. Amy Taylor, and Mrs. Sue Smith for providing
expertise, guidance, and patience as I conducted my research. I would like to thank Chapin
High School and Lisa Maylath for supporting this research project. I also thank my parents, Bill
and Tami Haselden for their encouragement and support.

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References
A. C. (n.d.). The Effects of Television Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity.
Retrieved September 15,
2015, from http://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1016&context=njph
C. A., PhD, M. B., MPh, RD, & M. S., PhD. (n.d.). Television (TV) and TV Advertisement
Influences on
Childrens Eating Behaviour. Retrieved September 15, 2015, from
http://www.childencyclopedia.com/sites/default/files/dossiers-complets/en/childnutrition.pdf#page=33
Chandra, A. R. (n.d.). An Investigation of Advertising on Media, Socio Economic,
Gender, and Age
Related to Obesity. Retrieved September 15, 2015, from
http://ojs.polinpdg.ac.id/index.php/JEB/article/viewFile/270/272
Obesity ReviewsVolume 16, Issue 2, Article first published online: 17 DEC 2014.
(n.d.). Retrieved
September 15, 2015, from
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/obr.12237/pdf
Overweight and Obesity Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved October 15, 2015, from
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/Pages/overweightobesity-statistics.aspx
P. L., V. C., C. R., & J. B. (n.d.). Effects of licensed characters on childrens taste and
snack preferences in
Guatemala, a low/middle income country. Retrieved September 15, 2015,
from
http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v38/n11/full/ijo201438a.html