Concepts of Healthy Eating Food Research: Phases I and II, 1992-1996

UKDA study number:5801

Principal Investigator

Caplan, P.
University of London. Goldsmiths College. Department of Anthropology

Data Collectors

Caplan, P.
Keane, A.
Willetts, A.
Williams, J.

Sponsor

Economic and Social Research Council

Distributed by

UK Data Archive, University of Essex, Colchester.

July 2008

Bibliographic Citation

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Caplan, P., Concepts of Healthy Eating Food Research: Phases I and II, 1992-1996 [computer file]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive [distributor], July 2008. SN: 5801.

Acknowledgement

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Copyright:
P. Caplan

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5801 . Concepts of Healthy Eating Food Research: Phases I and II, 1992-1996
(The Nation's Diet)

Depositor:

Caplan, P. , University of London. Goldsmiths College. Department of Anthropology

Principal Investigator:

Caplan, P. , University of London. Goldsmiths College. Department of Anthropology

Data Collectors:

Caplan, P.
Keane, A.
Willetts, A.
Williams, J.

Sponsor:

Economic and Social Research Council
Grant Number: L209252025; L209252045

Other Acknowledgements:

This research project formed part of the ESRC's 'The Nation's Diet' research programme.

Other people who contributed to this project included Karen Catling, who was for part of the time Project Administrator, and who also transcribed some tapes.

The depositor would also like to acknowledge the help of Sabine Durand-Gasselin, Sandra Bayes and Jim Ottoway.

Abstract:

This anthropological study was established to investigate people's own notions of the relationship between the food they ate and their health. In order to do this it was considered important to situate food choices in their social and cultural context.

The first project (Phase I) was set in Lewisham, an urban area of London. A second project (Phase II), designed to provide comparative data with Phase I, was located in and around Newport (Pembrokeshire), a rural area on the west coast of Wales.

The aims and objectives of the study were:

• to accumulate new information on food choices in Britain and the processes - social, cultural, political and economic - which lead to such choices in a diversity of settings, and in a rapidly changing situation


• to encourage greater understanding of people's ideas about the relationship between food and health which may prove of practical use in seeking to improve diet and therefore morbidity and mortality rates


• to refine anthropological theory and methodology in the area of food and diet by combining the approaches of political economy and cultural analysis


• by working at the micro-level, but situating the research in a much broader political, economic and geographical, as well as historical context


• to demonstrate the value of anthropological analysis, especially the importance of symbolism, categorisation, and social relationships in the understanding of people's choice of diet

Phase I was located in the London borough of Lewisham. A variety of methods was used in this research, including open-ended, semi-structured interviews with both general informants and with retail, catering and health professionals. General informants included men and women of all ages, both black and white British, from middle and working class backgrounds.

Phase II of the study was located in the small rural town of Newport. This replicated the methods of Phase I. Alongside retail, catering and health professionals, general informants in Phase II included middle- and working-class men and women of all ages, both Welsh and English-speaking. In addition, during the holiday season, a sample of tourists were interviewed. Selected local informants also kept 7-day food diaries. The researcher also engaged in participant observation by joining several local associations, attending meetings and other activities.

In addition to the documentation available for download, there is one box of paper documentation (e.g., grey literature, publications, shoppers’ surveys, etc.) available at the National Social Policy and Social Change Archive at the Albert Sloman Library Special Collections, University of Essex.

Further information can be found at the project Phase I web page and project Phase II web page or at the ESRC award page for Phase I and Phase II.

Main Topics:

Afro-Caribbean, age, alternative lifestyles, alternatives, body and embodiment, BSE, class, culture, dieting, eating disorders, ethnicity, food and health, food choices, food panics, gender, healthy eating, identity, medical anthropology, permaculture, social anthropology, supermarkets, tourist food, vegetarian.

Coverage:

Time Period Covered: 1992 - 1996
Dates of Fieldwork: 1993 - 1995
Country: England and Wales
Geography: Lewisham; Newport; Greater London; Pembrokeshire
Spatial Units: Unitary Authorities (England);Unitary Authorities (Wales)
Observation Units: Individuals; Families/households
Kind of Data: Textual data; Individual (micro) level; open-ended, semi-structured interviews; diaries

Universe Sampled:

Location of Units of Observation: Subnational
Population: Men and women of all ages, black or white British, English and/or Welsh speaking, middle-and working-class backgrounds; Retail, catering and health professionals; Tourists in the Newport area.

Methodology:

Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: Convenience sample
Number of Units: 293 interview transcripts; 73 diaries; 6 observation field notes
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview; Observation; Diaries
Weighting: No weighting used

Language(s) of Written Materials:

Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English and some Welsh

Access:

Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions for further information.
Availability: UK Data Service
External note: In addition to the documentation available for download, there is one box of paper documentation (e.g., grey literature, publications, shoppers’ surveys, etc.) available at the National Social Policy and Social Change Archive at the Albert Sloman Library Special Collections, University of Essex.
Contact: Get in touch

Date of First Release:

7 July 2008

Copyright:

P. Caplan

File last updated:

16 February 2015