Question for each of the following topics were developed: (a) what infants and children up to age 3 should eat, (b) how parents decide what to feed their children, (c) knowing when a child has been sufficiently fed, (d) parental control over a child's eating behaviors, (e) concern about overweight in children, (f) using food to influence behavior, (g) parent involvement in physical activity with the child, and (h) preferred methods for learning about child health issues (McGarvey et. al 2006). Furthermore, participants were invited to share experiences related to feeding their child that was outside of these general categories. An analysis of the data provided three main commonalities to all four groups. A lack of awareness of the relationship between increased physical activity and health, the effects of the use of food to influence behavior, concern over a loss of parental control over feeding when a child starts child care or school and finally, the data revealed perspectives specific to each group on age appropriate food and infant satiety.

Reliability and Validity

Data analysis involved the audio taping and transcription of each focus group, omitting the names of the participants. Printed transcriptions were then provided to two additional independent researchers for analysis. Categories of participant responses were organized and researchers discussed and resolved issues around the conceptual framework and the credibility of the categorized major themes. The...

A summary of the themes was then compiled for final review.
The strength of the evidence used to formulate the conclusions draw in this study is weakened by limited sample size. Because of this the ability to generalize the findings of the researchers is suspect. Due to the sampling method a valid argument may be made that the participants in the study are not representative of the entire class. Furthermore, because of the limited sample size other themes more significance to factors contributing to childhood obesity in the target population may have gone undetected. Other studies, such as Schetzina et. al (2009) incorporated the school system in order to recruit volunteers for research. Incorporating this methodology would have increased sample size and served to help validate the study's conclusions.

Reference List

McGarvey, EL, Collie, KR, Fraser, G, Shufflebarger, C, Lloyd, B & Oliver, MN 2006, 'Using focus groups to inform preschool child hood obesity prevention programming', Ethnicity and Health, Vol. 11, No. 3 August, pp. 265-285.

Schetzina, KE, Dalton III, WT, Lowe, EF, Azzazy, N, von Werssowetz, KM, Givens, C, & Stern, HP 2009,'Developing a coordinated school health approach to child obesity prevention in rural Appalachia: results of focus groups with teachers, parents and students', Rural and Remote Health, 9: 1157, October, viewed 17 June…