Annotated Bibliography And Summary

Fareena Alladin’s study of the fast food consumption of adolescents in Trinidad implies American media influences domestic and international consumers alike to purchase American fast food. The study looks at the television consumption of students in Trinidad aged 12-19, comparing their television intake to their likelihood to view fast food positively. The study aimed to identify a relationship between the amount of American television Trinidad students consumed and their opinions of fast food. Her study showed “medium and heavy viewers [of American television] were found to possess more favorable attitudes towards fast food” (Alladin 14). Alladin posed three research questions, and proposed three hypotheses; each hypothesis suggested a

A study from Lull in 2000 supported Alladin’s assertion that mass media socializes consumers, Gerbner and Gross’ Cultivation Theory explained how television impacts viewer’s behaviors, and a study from Sharifirad supported Alladin’s concern over media outlets targeting adolescents at a vulnerable age. Along with multiple other sources, Alladin included these studies to build a strong case against the power media outlets exercise on adolescents. These sources gave credibility to Alladin’s concern over increasing obesity rates, and therefore suggested obesity rates increase alongside television

The students ranged in age from 12-19, and were mixed in gender. The study did not determine which American television shows the students were supposed to watch, therefore missing an opportunity to more definitely establish a relationship between American television viewing and fast food consumption. The students mainly watched “The Big Bang Theory,” “Vampire Diaries,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “Ridiculousness,” “iCarly,” and “Victorious.” Alladin did not assign students to watch certain shows, but she did ensure the students watched the shows during their regular airing time to maintain consistency between what the participants and the researched watched. Alladin explained the characters on Situation Comedies like “The Big Bang Theory” and “How I Met Your Mother” eat some of fast food at least twice per episode on average, but fast food played less of a role in the other shows the students’