Adolescents Seeking Nutrition Information: Motivations, Sources and the Role of the Internet

View Sample PDF

Author(s): Jessica N. Larsen (Colorado State University, USA)and Rosa Mikeal Martey (Colorado State University, USA)
Copyright: 2013
Pages: 12
Source title: Learning Tools and Teaching Approaches through ICT Advancements
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Lawrence A. Tomei (Robert Morris University, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-2017-9.ch010

Keywords: Distance Education / Education / Educational Technologies / Information Science Reference

Purchase

View Adolescents Seeking Nutrition Information: Motivations, Sources and the Role of the Internet on the publisher's website for pricing and purchasing information.

Abstract

Much research exploring the potential of the internet for providing effective nutrition information to adolescents focuses on the design of websites and uses of the internet. This study takes a step back to investigate the specific reasons adolescents do and do not use the internet to learn about nutrition. This paper asks, “What motivates adolescents to select the internet when learning about nutrition?” Using in-depth interviews and a survey, two stages of the information-seeking process are examined: initiation and selection. Results reveal that because school classes are serving as a primary entry point for learning about this topic, even personal nutrition needs are often conceptualized as formal and education-related. The internet is less appealing than books and teachers for fulfilling those needs because adolescents primarily use it for social, not formal tasks. The paper concludes that educators should incorporate more directed use of the internet into nutrition classes and assignments.

The IRMA Community

Research IRM

Adolescents Seeking Nutrition Information: Motivations, Sources and the Role of the Internet

Purchase

Abstract

Related Content

IRMA Sponsors