The study aimed to examine whether adding popular media characters to healthy foods could shift children's preferences towards healthier options. It involved 149 children aged 6-9 who viewed food/drink products side by side on a computer and selected their preference. The findings showed that while media characters increased attention, their presence alone did not persuade children to choose healthier foods over less healthy ones. Younger children aged 6-7 were more attracted to products with media characters than older children aged 8-9. The study concluded that marketing techniques could influence children's food preferences differently depending on their age.

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Journal Article Critique
EMCJ599
October 27, 2018
Topic: Influence of Cartoon Media Characters on Children’s
Attention to and Preference for Food and Beverage Products
Purpose of study
Unhealthy foods are mostly attributed to causing obesity
among children as well as other related diseases. Over
consuming the foods and drinks can lead to catalyzed changes
thus the associated diseases (Ogle et al., 2016). Marketing may
increase the rate and preference of children's' intakes. The
purpose of the study is to examine to determine whether adding
well known, authorized and licensed media personalities to
healthy foods shift preferences. The change of choice to healthy

2. eating amongst children will lead to decreased obesity
occurrences as well as other diseases.
Comment: the objective and aim of the study are in line with the
topic thus its research can lead to the ultimate goal. However,
the problem is not commonly identifiable to the general public
and the research insights about the influence of marketing on
children food choices.
Hypotheses or Questions for Research
H1: The research tested that children prefer less healthy
foods compared to healthy foods and pay more attention to
products with media characters irrespective of the nutritional
value of the food
Ho: The research tested that children prefer healthy foods
and drinks when media characters are present compared to when
absent.
Comment: the hypothesis is in line the aim of the research and
limited to the researcher's capabilities.
Source of Date, Sample and Procedures
Sample Population
The research involved the participation of six to nine-
year-old population with the total number of children being 149,
their mean age equal to 7.36 years and standard deviation
approximately 1.12. The participants were recruited from Twin
Cities and MN while the period of research was between 2012
and 2013. The children were shown products side by side via a
computer and those who would like food on the right side press
the right and those that would like that on the left click left.
Comment:
Empirical Studies on the Topic or Subject
The research review is existing information by examining
the influence of media characters in creating attention on foods
to children. However, there was no literature review on the
quantitative approaches to the visual care generated by the
media characters.
Key concepts
Front-of-pack, Food marketing, Children, Licensed

3. characters, Visual attention
Statistical Procedures Used
The technique used was the sampling technique. The
attention to products was compared according to the sampled
tests. The product of choice was then analyzed with single
sample tests. The child's age and sex were also factored in
during sampling to determine the interaction effects. Sampling
technique though easy to use may be limited as assumptions of
unbiased representations are made. Besides, the sampled data
may not be an accurate representation of the total population.
Limitations of Study
The research had limitations. One, the children viewed the
foods and drinks on a screen and did not have actual interaction
with the real products. Moreover, children past experiences with
the products was not put into consideration. The number of
trials made by the children was too many and could make them
fatigued.
Findings and Discussion
Data was gathered, captured and analyzed to determine whether
the set hypothesis was right. To the contrary, the research was
that the presence of a media character would not increase their
preference for that product. This was contrary to the previous
research although the differences were small. However, the
study found out that younger children aged 6-7 years are
attracted more to products with media personality compared to
older aged 8-9 years. The second hypothesis was proved correct
as children were more attracted to food and drinks with media
characters in the advertisements. Marketing should be targeted
to achieve the importance depicted by the study.
Conclusions
The results of the study show that licensed media
characters can influence and create attention to children.
However, their presence may not be enough to persuade them to
Influence of Cartoon Media Characters on Children's Attention
to and Preference for Food and Beverage Products choose
healthier foods over less healthy foods. Besides, the marketing

4. strategies used to influence younger children than older ones.
The study Influence of Cartoon Media Characters on Children's
Attention to and Preference for Food and Beverage Products
also found that every character will have a different impact on
the influence created on the product to children (Castonguay et
al., 2013)
Other notes
Recommendations
The research should be conducted in a more diverse and wider
range of children. The visual abilities and attention of children
need to be factored and factored in a while doing the research.
The children also need access to actual products rather than
pictorial representations.
References
Ogle, A. D., Graham, D. J., Lucas-Thompson, R. G., & Roberto,
C. A. (2016). Influence of Cartoon Media Characters on
Children's Attention to and Preference for Food and Beverage
Products. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics,117(2), 265-270.e2.
Castonguay, J., Kunkel, D., Wright, P., & Duff, C. (2013).
Healthy characters? An investigation of marketing practices in
children's food advertising. Journal of Nutrition Education and
Behavior, 45(6), 571-577.