Research Memo

Hypothesis: In my survey, I hoped to gain more information about what the public thought of Anorexia and Eating Disorders. What was predicted about my survey results was that women would have more sight into the effects of my topic. I believe that women were going to be the majority of the people who thought my topic could be prevented and even stopped. This was predicted because more women have Anorexia and eating disorders than men, perhaps causing them to be more sympathetic and willing to stop it, rather than men.

Context: My targeted survey takers were young women. Young women may be more experienced and knowledgeable with my topic. I was curious to see is my survey participants would answer in a way that I predicted and how I would have answered these questions had I been the individual taking the survey. From pilot testing, I discovered that many people thought that females were the people that according to the public, females were definitely more likely to be a victim of Anorexia and eating disorders. My results are valid and reliable because all of the responses I received are reasonable and honest. None of my answers were skewed or biased because I did not want to form an opinion on what I believed about my topic. I wanted answered based on what my survey participants would have said, had my survey not been skewed or biased.

Results:

	Answer	Trends	Implications	Female	Male
Question one: Are you male or female?	8-Male 17- Female	I had more female participants.	Gives me an idea of how gender will affect the survey questions asked.	48%	32%
Question two: Do you now or have ever played sports?	Female: 3-No 14-Yes Male: 1-No 7- Yes	Most of my participants play or have played sports.	These results give me an idea of who I can expect to be biased about my topic.	Yes: 83% No: 17%	Yes: 86% No: 14%
If yes to question 2, “Have you played any of the following sports?”	Female: Gymnastics, Track & Field, Cheerleading, Tennis, Soccer, Golf Male: Track & Field, Cheerleading, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer	There was a large variety of sports played by my participants.	From these answers, I now know which sports may be linked to my topic.		4
If you selected a sport for question 4, "Have you ever been told to lose weight by a coach or team leader?"	Female: Yes: 6 No: 11 Male: Yes:2 No:5	Most of my participants had not been asked to lose weight.	This question helps me realize which gender would be more prone to being asked to lose weight.	Female: Yes: 35% No:65%	Male: Yes:29% No:71%
If yes to question 4, “How did you comprehend being told to lose weight?”	Female: Questioned yourself mentally: 1 Questioned yourself physically: 1 Lost weight:4 Ignored their suggestion:3 Male: Questioned yourself mentally: 0 Questioned yourself physically: 2 Lost Weight:1 Ignored their suggestion: 0	Most of the people asked to lose weight complied.	Now, with insight on how these survey participants dealt with the suggestion of losing weight, I may have an idea of why some people have Anorexia and eating disorders.	Female: Questioned yourself mentally: .06% Questioned yourself physically: .06% Lost weight:23% Ignored their suggestion:.18%	Male: Questioned yourself mentally: 0% Questioned yourself physically: 26% Lost Weight:15% Ignored their suggestion: 0%
Have you or someone you know ever suffered from Anorexia or other eating disorders?	Female: Yes: 14 No: 3 Male: Yes: 2 No: 5	Most of the women participants in my survey admit to either having known someone with Anorexia and Eating Disorders or have had it themselves.	Mostly Women who took my survey have personally known someone who has suffered from Anorexia and other eating disorders, rather than men.	Female: Yes: 82% No: 18%	Male: Yes: 26% No:74%
On a scale of 1-10, how important do you think informing young teens about Anorexia and eating disorders is?	Female: 10 -7 9-4 8- 1 5-1 4 1 Male: 10-1 8-1 6-1 5-1 3-2 1-1	The female and the male participants had a larger difference in answers.	Women that took my survey answered this question with results that suggests that they are more concerned with my topic.	Female: 10:  41% 9: 24% 8: .06% 5-.06% 4:.06%	Male: 10-14% 8: 14% 6: 14% 5: 14% 3: 29% 1: 14%
Please select the following that you think are important.	Female: Solving Anorexia and eating disorders in sports, Teaching young athletes about Anorexia and eating disorders, Knowing the symptoms of Anorexia and eating disorders Male: Teaching young athletes about Anorexia and eating disorders	Female participants believed there were more solutions in solving this epidemic rather than the male participants.	When it comes to the men that answered this survey question, most of the participants believed that the main way of preventing Anorexia and other eating disorders was to teach the young athletes of the risks of the disease.	Female: Solving Anorexia and eating disorders in sports, Teaching young athletes about Anorexia and eating disorders, Knowing the symptoms of Anorexia and eating disorders	Male: Teaching young athletes about Anorexia and eating disorders
Who do you think is most at risk  for Anorexia or eating disorders	Females: 17- Younger females Males- 8- Younger females	I was surprised that all of my survey takers were unanimous in this survey question.	It was unanimous that younger females were the most at risk for Anorexia and eating disorders because “They are already low confident. Sports, at times, can cause them to question themselves on their weight because of other players.”	Female Younger females: 100%	Male: Younger females: 100%

Data analysis: My first finding was that younger females were most at risk for the epidemic of Anorexia and eating disorders. I was almost surprised with these results because based off of the results of the other questions. My second finding was that many of the participants played or play sports. I found this important because it tells me that they are aware of what Anorexia is and the effects it may have. My third finding that I found surprising as that some of my men participants had been told to lose weight. When I think of Anorexia and weight loss, I usually think of girls because I believe weight loss, I think of insecurities. Most of the time insecurities are associated with girls so I was surprised with the outcome.

Conclusion I found throughout my research and information gathered by my survey that Anorexia and eating disorders was a concern of the public, but not as severe as I thought it would be. Seeing Anorexia and other eating disorders first hand has made me more passionate about this issue. Most of the people I surveyed said that they have not seen Anorexia or other eating disorders in their lives. I believe that if these same people had seen it, they would have answered differently and been more concerned. My survey also suggests that people believe that Anorexia and other Eating disorders could be cut down if more Americans were educated on the effects of the diseases.

Follow Up: in my secondary research, I hope to go more in-depth with my topic. I would like to apply Anorexia and Eating disorders into everyday life for the people who are still not yet convinced of the harmful effects of this epidemic. I was happy though when I read my survey results and people who participated in the survey admitted that it is an epidemic that needs to be solved.