Cognitive Dissonance - Assignment Example

As opposed to an efficacy test, the article conducts an effectiveness test within a real world context. Procedures pertaining to the research will all be done in an ecologically valid environment free from laboratory control. In order to objectively test the underlying hypothesis, researchers conducted a scientific research exercise. This essay involves an evaluation on the research article, and includes appraising both the dependent and independent variables adopted during the process. In addition, a thorough critique on results and findings will serve the purpose of unearthing strengths and weaknesses contained within the article.

Finally, suggestion for future research will provide directions for improved versions of the prevention program in subject. Dependent versus Independent Variables Since it is a scientific research article, both dependent and independent variables are contained within the underlying hypothesis. The hypothesis claims that dissonance-inducing habits causes an improvement in teenagers’ eating patterns and reduces dissatisfaction towards their body images. In this context, the independent variables include; i.

Dissonance-inducing habits ii. Psycho educational Brochure control condition On the contrary, dependent variables, commonly referred to as the outcome variables includes; i. Improvement in eating disorder risk factors like dieting ii. Status of eating disorder symptoms iii. Risk for onset of sub threshold and threshold conditions like anorexia nervosa iv. Degree of escalation in individuals’ body mass v. Depressive symptoms Dissonance-inducing practices are independent variables because they are manipulated by researchers in order to elicit the desired outcome from participants.

According to Stice, Paul, Jeff and Heather (2009), changing the intensity of dissonance-inducing practices will cause a corresponding change in the desired effects of improved eating habits. On the other hand, status of eating disorder symptoms and the other listed variables fall under the dependent category. There variables are tested for cause-effect relationship whereby independent variables are the cause while the dependent variables are expected outcomes. ANOVA Results Significant Results Within the findings section, researchers conducted analysis of variance test in an effort to ascertain difference between the dissonance-induced practices and psycho educational brochure conditions.

After the analysis, certain findings were found to indicate significant difference between the two conditions, while other results indicated little or insignificant difference. Among the ANOVA results found to being significant include; i. Thin-ideal internalization