The project seeks to describe children's eating behaviours and foster carers' feeding practices through administration of a quantitative survey using existing validated measures. Additionally, Information will be collected about the challenges encountered and strategies employed by carers when faced with problematic eating behaviour in this context.
Department: Psychology
Supervised by: Dr Sarah Snuggs
There is a well-established evidence base indicating that problematic eating behaviours in children can lead to both negative long term health outcomes and carer stress. Some parental strategies and feeding practices have been shown to encourage more positive eating behaviours and support happier, healthier family mealtimes. It is likely that similar associations, as well as unique difficulties and challenges, exist in the context of adoptive and foster family mealtimes. However, research in this area Is exceptionally limited. This study seeks to recruit a cohort of foster parents to complete an online survey to explore these relationships further. Specifically, the questionnaire will administer quantitative and qualitative measures seeking to measure: children's eating behaviours, carer stress, carer feeding practices, specific challenges associated with mealtimes in this group and strategies employed by foster parents to address such challenges. The PI already has links with adoption and foster agencies who can support with recruitment so the placement student will predominantly be involved in project management.
The student will be involved in aspects of recruitment, data collection and data analysis. The PI will gain ethical approval ahead of the placement period so that we are able to start recruitment immediately. There will then be a 3-week period of data collection during which the student will script and deliver the online informed consent form, participant information and questionnaire. This will allow for the second half of the placement period to be used for data input and analysis. During the recruitment and data collection period, there will also be opportunities to contribute to literature review and methodology writing for the paper.
Time management & organisational skills (essential) Good oral and written communication skills (essential) Experience with SPSS (essential) Knowledge of the subject area (desirable)
The student will have co-authorship on the planned peer-reviewed journal article arising from the research project, and the opportunity to be involved in the writing of the paper. Because the project is standalone, they will be able to learn about all the aspects of planning and running an empirical research project as well as to take on much of the day-to-day management of the project. Specifically, they will learn about recruiting hard-to-reach participants and the ethics involved in collecting empirical data (e.g. informed consent, debrief etc.). They will also collect and input data and analyse the data using SPSS.
University of Reading (on campus with some opportunity to work remotely but MUST be available for regular in person meetings). Flexible start date in discussion with PI (open to splitting 6 weeks over the summer or choosing a straight 6-week period).
30 hrs per week or pro rata if split over more than 6 weeks
Friday 14 July 2023 - Thursday 31 August 2023
The deadline to apply for this opportunity is Monday 3rd April 2023. Students should submit their CV and Cover Letter directly to the Project Supervisor (click on supervisor name at the top of the page for email). Successful candidates will be invited for an interview.