I used the terms children; obesity; obesity in schools; childhood obesity; students and schools; obesity in rural areas; perception of childhood obesity; students and school meals; and obesity in schools. The database I used was ERIC. I actually started this course with an interest in adult learning, but recently, through some interactions with a 12-year-student at a private school, I have come to realize I have far more interest in the topic of children’s obesity. …show more content…
4. What were the sources of the data collected? For example, who were the participants? What was the sample? What sites for research data collected were used? and/or What documents were studied?
Qualitative data for this exploratory study were collected in a rural southeast Texas community by employing individual interviews and focus groups. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with the key informants of the school district: the superintendent, the food service director, the physical educator director, and four school principals (representative of each school level). Eleven focus groups were held with parents, schoolteachers, and interest groups related to childhood obesity, including school site Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO) and the school district’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC). These two groups expanded the participation of parents and teachers, respectively. A total of 114 people participated in the study: 74 parents, 33 teachers (including the PTO and SHAC), and seven district and school