Scale-Description

The WillTry Scale (WTS-22) is a measurement tool developed to assess children’s willingness to try new and different foods. It is commonly used in environments such as schools, nutrition research programs, and studies aimed at promoting healthy eating habits, with the goal of identifying factors that influence children’s eating behaviors.

Analysis and Use

The WTS-22 typically consists of 22 questions that examine various aspects of children’s willingness to try new foods. Each question is rated on a Likert scale, which allows children to evaluate their intent to try specific foods under different conditions.
Dimensions: The scale may cover multiple dimensions, such as willingness to try healthy foods, unfamiliar foods, foods from different cultures, and fruits/vegetables.
Data Analysis: Data from the use of the scale can be analyzed using statistical methods, such as factor analysis, to identify dimensions and patterns in children’s willingness.

Purpose

The main purpose of the WTS-22 is to provide an objective assessment of children’s willingness to try new foods and to understand the factors that encourage or discourage this willingness. Researchers and educators can use the results for:
Development of educational programs: Helps in designing healthy eating promotion programs in schools.
Analysis of dietary habits: Allows the study of eating patterns and the influence of family and environment.
Improvement of food choices: Used to enhance children’s access to healthy foods through interventions.

Calibration

Calibration of the WTS-22 involves using statistical methods to ensure the validity and reliability of the scale across different samples of children. Some of the steps include:
Reliability: Assessing the internal consistency of the scale using indicators like Cronbach’s Alpha.
Validity: Ensuring content validity, meaning the questions cover all relevant topics.
Pilot study: A pilot application is usually conducted before the scale’s wide use to adjust questions based on children’s feedback.
Data Usage from the WillTry Scale
Data from the WillTry Scale can be used for:
Statistical analysis: Methods such as factor analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis are used to draw conclusions.
Designing interventions: The data helps in forming educational interventions that can improve children’s eating habits.
Business strategy: It can be used by food companies aiming to market new products to younger audiences.

References

Research around the WillTry scale includes many studies focusing on children’s willingness to try new foods, particularly in relation to healthy eating choices. Some key references might include:
Birch, L.L., Fisher, J.O. (1998). Development of eating behaviors among children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 101(Supplement 2), 539-549.
Wardle, J., Cooke, L. (2008). Genetic and environmental determinants of children’s food preferences. British Journal of Nutrition, 99(S1), S15-S21.
Galloway, A.T., Fiorito, L.M., Lee, Y., Birch, L.L. (2005). Parental pressure, dietary patterns, and weight status among girls who are “picky eaters”. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 105(4), 541-548.