Results/ Data Analysis
1. Were the analysis undertaken to address each research question and hypothesis?
The analyses were adequately done to address all the hypotheses in the study. Four hypotheses are guiding the study (Annesi and Mareno, 2015):
2. Were the appropriate statistical methods, given the level of measurement of variables, the number of groups being compared, and assumptions of the statistical test?
Appropriate statistical methods were used for the analysis of the data gathered during the study. First, regression analysis was used to assess the prediction of emotional eating by body satisfaction at baseline. A multiple regression analysis was also conducted to assess the ability of changes in overall mood and self-regulation of eating over a period of 6 months to predict changes in self-efficacy to control emotionally cued eating (Annesi and Mareno, 2015). Another statistical analysis conducted was the mixed-model repeated measures analysis of variances [2 [groups] 9 2 [measurement times] ANOVAS] to determine the significance of score changes from baseline to the sixth month of the study in the following variables:
• Body satisfaction
• Overall mood and Self-regulating eating
• Emotional eating,
• Self-efficacy to control emotionally cued eating
• whether those changes significantly differed by group
Several other variables were also used. All these statistical methods were used appropriately.
3. Was the most powerful analytic method used (Did the analysis help to control for the confounding variables)?
All the analytic methods used were powerful and adequately controlled for the confounding variables. The regression analysis performed to assess how body satisfaction predicts emotional eating, for example, is appropriate because the variables involved bear the required qualities suitable for analysis using this method.
4. Were type 1 and type 2 errors avoided or minimized?
In the study, both type 1 and type 2 errors were avoided by controlling for the confounding variables and using the appropriate statistical technique in the analysis of the data.
5. In interventions studies, was intent to treat analysis performed?
All the participants who were randomly allocated to treatment group were included in the analysis. Besides, they were analyzed in the groups to which they were allocated. Consequently, the intent-to-treat analysis was performed.
6. Were problems of missing values evaluated and adequately addressed?
The problems of missing values were evaluated and adequately addressed. For example, the data for the 12% of scores that were missing at random were imputed using the expectation-maximization algorithm (Annesi and Mareno, 2015).
Findings
7. Is information about statistical significance presented? Is information about effect, size, and precision of estimates (confidence intervals) presented?
The information concerning the statistical significance is presented in the report. For example, the p-values and β-values for the inverse relationship between Body satisfaction and Emotional eating at baseline were found to be P =0.041 and 0.21 respectively (Annesi and Mareno, 2015).
8. Are findings adequately summarized with good use of tables and figures?
The findings are adequately summarized in tables. For example, the results of mediation and reciprocal effects analyses are shown in page 2931 of the report (Annesi and Mareno, 2015).
9. Are findings reported in a manner that facilitates a meta-analysis and with sufficient information needed for EBP?
The findings are reported effectively in a manner that facilitates a meta-analysis.
Discussion/ Interpretation of Findings
10. Are all results interpreted and discussed within the context of prior research and study's conceptual framework?
In the discussion, references are made to previous studies. For example, it is reported under the discussion section that the findings are consistent with the results of the study by Belcher et al. (2011) (Annesi and Mareno, 2015). Besides, the study’s conceptual framework adequately informs the interpretation of the findings of the study.
11. Are casual references, if any, justified?
The discussion also highlights the causes of the various findings made in the study.
12. Does the report address the issue of generalizability of the findings?
The report highlights the need to replicate the study various age groups, sexes, and ethnicity among others.
Implications/Recommendations
13. Do the researchers discuss the implications of the study for clinical practice or further inquiry and are those implications reasonable and complete?
The implications of the study are adequately discussed in the report. In this case, it highlights the need to replicate the study across ages, sexes, and ethnicity among others so that its findings’ generalizability can be evaluated.
References
Annesi, J. J., & Mareno, N. (2015). Improvement in emotional eating associated with an enhanced body image in obese women: mediation by weight‐management treatments' effects on self‐efficacy to resist emotional cues to eating. Journal of advanced nursing, 71(12), 2923-2935.
