Presentation of Research Limitation Week 5

1. Research Limitations
Cori Hilbourn
Research Methods
The Effects of a Nutrition Education
Intervention on Vending Machine Sales
on a University Campus

2. Study Design
• Observational Research Design
• Unobtrusive
– Individuals are unaware their sales are being watched

3. Purpose of the Study
• Determine if nutrition information on a vending
machine would affect sales
• Using a sign outside of the vending machine, as
well as red, yellow, green labels

4. Hypothesis
• Intervention on vending machines would increase
healthy snack sales and decrease unhealthy snack
sales

5. Limitations and Bias
• Snack receiving red labels, such as nuts even
though they are not unhealthy
• More studies need to be done to determine if
university events affect sales
• Studies need to be done on multiple campuses
• Sample size was small
• Universities would be scared of loss of revenue

6. References
Brown, M.V., Flint, M, and Fuqua, J. (2014, October).
The effects of a nutrition education intervention on
vending machine sales on a university
campus. Journal of American College Health, 62(7),
512-516. Retrieved
from: https://bigbrother.logan.edu:2443/login?url=htt
p://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=
s3h&AN=98307989&site=ehost-live