What works? An overview

A total of three (3) focus group discussion sessions were conducted. One focus group discussion was conducted in each of the three randomly selected Federal Universities (FUTO, UNN and NAU). It means that a total of three focus group discussion sessions was used in the study. Each focus group discussion consists of seven (7) discussants, selected randomly from the departments in each institution.

The venue used for the discussion was within each school’s premises. Each session commenced with a formal introduction of the research team, and the purpose of the study. The discussants introduced themselves and rapport was established. The supervisor monitored the sitting arrangement. She also monitored the proceedings and the note taker documented the discussions on paper and tape recorder. The discussion lasted for 90 minutes. A video recorder was used in documenting the entire discussion after which it was played and transcribe. The participants were appreciated and light refreshment was offered to show gratitude for their participation in the exercise.

Table 4.15: Categories emanating from responses in the Focus Group Discussion S/N Questions Participants

(in Groups)

Summary of Responses Categories

1.

Do you eat Instant Noodles?

A B C

All the participants in each of the groups said YES

- Affirming to the question

2. How often do you

eat Instant Noodles?

A B C

50% said Occasionally 20% said almost everyday

30% said whenever there is no food at home

-

Inconsistency in eating habit

3. Do you get internet wellness

information about harmful effects of Instant Noodles?

A B C

All said YES - Affirming to

the question

4. Can you share with us the kinds of information you got?

A - Instant noodles contains fat -Instant noodles does not contain fibre

- Instant noodles is high on carbohydrates

Focusing on harmful

effects

B - Instant noodles is rich in fat and oil

- Instant noodles is low in protein, fibre and vitamins

- Instant noodles can cause heart problem

Focusing on harmful

effects

C

- Instant noodles can lead to cancer

- Instant noodles can affect the kidney

- Instant noodles is poor in essential amino-acids

Focusing on harmful effects

5. How did these A - I don’t eat it as usual Changing

information affect your consumption of Instant noodles?

B C

- I eat it with vegetables - I eat it once in a while - I don’t eat it again - I eat it sparingly

- I can’t remember the last time I ate it

- Sometimes I eat it not minding the information about it; there are still some good ones

behavior in eating habit

6. What informed

your dietary decisions on Instant

Noodles?

A B C

- My doctor’s advice

- The information I got from the internet about its harmful effects - What people said about Instant noodles generally

Responding to information and advice

Table 4.16: Thematic Analysis of the Focus Group Discussion

S/N Theme Concepts

1. Affirmativeness Affirmation

2. Redundancy Change

3. Bizarre Negativity

4 Feedback Reactions

The themes that emanated from the results in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) showed a relationship between information and reaction to such information. The concept of “affirmation” was drawn from all the ‘YES’ responses given by participants in each of the groups in the FGD on whether or not they eat instant noodles. This concept gave rise to the theme of “Affirmativeness”.

Similarly, due to the individual differences in human based on eating habit and frequency of eating instant noodles, the concept of “Inconsistency” was drawn. Also, the Internet wellness information about instant noodles adversely affected the eating habits of the participants. Hence, there was a general change in behaviour about how they consume instant noodles.

This gave rise to the concept of “change” which was combined with the concept of

“inconsistency” to arrive at the theme of “Redundancy”. What this means is that there is bound to be a form of redundancy in behaviour towards a particular subject when there is a general change in individual behaviour based on certain negative or unhealthy information received about that subject.

The above theme of “redundancy” is authenticated by the theme of “Bizarre” which come from the concept of “Negativity” drawn from the fact that individuals tend to focus or isolate unhealthy information about a given subject and use those information as the basis for their decision about the subject. From the myriad of information about instant noodles, the result showed that participants in the FGD made their decisions based on the information about the unhealthy nature of instant noodles as a processed food.

Lastly, the concept of “reaction” was drawn from the categories of responses that informed the basis for the decisions made by the participants on whether or not they will eat instant noodles. Some of the participants relied on the doctor’s advice; others focused on what people say about instant noodles while the remaining based their decisions on Internet wellness information they received about instant noodles as unhealthy processed food. This means that individual’s’ feedback to information or advice received comes in form of their behavioural response to either continue to consume the product or discontinue their consumption of the product.