Assessing Food System Attitudes Among Youth: Development and Evaluation of Attitude Measures

ObjectiveTo design and pilot a questionnaire for assessing youth attitudes about the food system.DesignNutrition educators provided important topics for food system education through a survey using the Delphi method. The resulting questionnaire of attitude scales was piloted with high school students.SettingThe Delphi survey of nutrition educators was conducted through the mail and electronically. A paper and pencil questionnaire was administered to high school students in Family and Consumer Science classes.ParticipantsDelphi participants were members of the Society for Nutrition Education’s Division of Sustainable Food Systems. A convenience sample of high school students completed the pilot questionnaire.Variables MeasuredScales measured attitudes about farmland protection, participation in the local food system, hunger in the United States, organic agriculture, and environmental issues related to food.AnalysisFactor analysis was used to identify constructs. The internal consistency of each resulting scale was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha.ResultsReliability of attitude scales ranged from .59 to .73.Conclusions and ImplicationsAttitude scales were created for the purpose of assessing youth thoughts and beliefs about the local or regional food system. Such assessments can serve as a starting point for food system educators interested in developing effective curricula on food system topics.