Date of Award

7-1-1963

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology & Public Health Education

Abstract

Marcia Louise Iverson, Master of Science

The thesis here abstracted was written under the direction of Mr. Walter C. Koenig and approved by Dr. A. J. Bjork, Mrs. G. B. Couch and Mrs. M. Marr as members of the examining committee, of which Walter C. Koenig was chairman.

The purpose of this study was to determine the contributions or detrimental effects of the hot lunch, snack bar lunch, or sack lunch on the physical and mental achievement of the junior high school girl.

The 114- girls selected for this study were all students in grades seven and eight at Placerita Junior High school in Newhall, California. Group I consisted of students who ate in the school cafeteria. Group II consisted of students who bought their lunch at the school snack bar. Group III consisted of students who brought their lunch from home. Each group was given the physical fitness test battery at the beginning and end of the school year. Grades were those obtained at the end of the first and second semesters.

The three groups were compared to determine whether any significant changes occurred in the physical fitness testing or grade point averages in relations to the types of lunches. A statistical analysis was made of (1) the significant difference between the initial and final means of each group on each test, and (2) the significant difference between the mean of each test item of each group.

An analysis of the data indicated that there was no significant difference in physical abilities due to the types of lunch they ate as measured by a modified AAHPSR Youth Fitness Test. An analysis of the grade average indicated that the students who brought their lunch from home achieved the highest grades and those eating at the snack bar achieved the lowest grades.

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