T1 2021 RAI102: Research Evaluation Report: Sugary Drinks in Australia

This report critically evaluates a qualitative research study that explores Australian consumers' perspectives on government interventions concerning sugary drinks. The study's aim was to understand consumer views on the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and the potential impact of government policies. The report examines the research methodology, which primarily used focus groups, and assesses its strengths and limitations. Key findings reveal a need for government action to reduce sugary drink consumption, highlighting the importance of understanding consumer beliefs and values. The report analyzes the study's thematic data analysis, identifying themes related to consumer perceptions of regulations, preferences for child-focused and educative measures, and comparisons between sugary drinks and other substances like alcohol and tobacco. The report also assesses how well the information is conveyed and suggests improvements, such as incorporating quantitative methods like questionnaires and random sampling to enhance the validity and generalizability of the findings. Overall, the evaluation provides a comprehensive overview of the research, its implications, and recommendations for future research in this area.

Qualitative insights into Australian consumers views for and against government action on sugary
drinks

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview......................................................................................................................................2
Aim and objectives......................................................................................................................2
Research methodology used........................................................................................................2
Key findings.................................................................................................................................3
How well the information is conveyed and ways the research could be improved.....................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

Overview
The present study is based upon the article in which Australian consumer’s views for and
against government actions on sugary drinks are evaluated through qualitative study.
Aim and objectives
The aim of the research is to determine generate a deep knowledge pertaining to
consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) or sugary drinks among Australian people
which increase the chances of obesity, tooth decay, increased cardio-vascular disease etc.
Whereas, the objective of the present study is to examine the policy action taken by Australian
government in order to have control over such consumption (Miller and et.al., 2020). Along with
this, it provide critical evaluation of the methods and findings presented over the article.
Research methodology used
The entire study is based upon the qualitative study in which primary and secondary data
collection has been analyzed. In the context of secondary sources, government official sites and
records of restaurant has been used in order to determine the consumption level of Australian
people regarding SSBs. On the other side, under primary research, scholar uses focus group as a
primary data collection methods in which investigator select people on the basis of age, gender
and socio-economic status. Thus, it has been critically evaluated that survey can be used through
the means of questionnaire in which scholar is able to determine majority of views regarding the
government’s policy action regarding sugary drinks within Australia. However, focus group is
considered one of the most expensive method and the chances of getting honest answer will
decreases (Queirós, Faria and Almeida, 2017).
Moreover, the study is based upon qualitative where researcher able to examine the trend
only, also investigator is not able to present the finding in statistically manner. Along with this,
the study help to determine the opinion and current market trend, but does not help to make
effective decision for the future. That is why, it can be stated that through qualitative study,
scholar is able to present the finding in general manner, but not able to present the perspective of
young people and parents of young children. In addition to this, it is examined that groups were
recorded to facilitate transcription and analysis, also, descriptive analysis was also undertaken to
examine the common themes through the means of NVivo qualitative software which assist or
present the findings in effective manner.

Participants were recruited from market research databases and screened to exclude
within a beverage industry. That is why, open ended questions had been designed which in turn
assist to determine the views of all the respondents along with any further challenges they face.
All participants also contributed their best in order to provide valid answer but, the responses
were varied and it somehow not clearly presented the overall findings (Zyphur and Pierides,
2017). That is why, researcher may opt another methodology which contributed to generate the
common answer so that accurate outcome will be designed that leads research to further accurate
manner. Therefore, it can be stated that the methodology section somehow contributed to
generate the accurate results but it also leads to generalizing the entire results because researcher
conduct open ended questions where respondents provide list of answer that deviated them from
actual answers. In this case, questionnaire is consider the best method to identify the accurate
results in which direct question along with different choices of answer provided that helps to
meet the defined aim.
Key findings
The key findings of the qualitative research is such that government policy action is
lacking in relation to reduction overconsumption of sugary drink in Australia. That is why, there
is a need to understand the beliefs as well as values which underpin community views to make
strict action for society. Also, with the help of thematic data analysis, scholar present the findings
in three different themes such that in first one, it describe the participant’s changing perception
on regulation on SSBs within focus group. However, the term regulation is misunderstood by
some of the people which leads to causes adverse impact upon results. On the other hand, theme
2 assists to examine the participant’s preference for child-focused measures and educative
measures like clearer front of pack labeling. Moreover, taxation also viewed more favorable by
all the people. Last theme explain the parallel of sugary drinks like alcohol and tobacco.
In addition to this, another key findings of the article is such that it represent the factual
information about sugary drinks which affect health risk and economic burden of obesity which
shaping consumer views on government action. Government make their best decision in order to
support the people in which provision of education, accurate consumer information as well as
protection of children are considered as appropriate role for government regarding to sugary
drinks. It has been critically evaluated that framing of policy measures related to sugary drinks is

another critical in gaining public support. That is why, it can be stated that government needs
support for regulation that create awareness among people in order to reduce the consumption of
sugary drinks among people that does not creates negative impact upon their health.
How well the information is conveyed and ways the research could be improved
The information is conveyed in well manner because themes had been designed which
provide clear communication to the audience. Such that by involving the community and let
them understand about the negative impact of excessive use of sugary drinks. Therefore, it
assists to people identify that overconsumption of such drink may increase the chances of
diabetes, cardio-vascular disease etc. However, it is also examined that the research could be
improved by changing the research methodology into quantitative methods (Goertzen, 2017). In
this, scholar may also opt questionnaire as a method of primary research which entails the
behavior and consumption rate of the people. It is so because it is cost effective method and there
is no need to have face to face interaction between people.
In addition to this, it is also examined that the information can be improved by the use of
questionnaire in which different themes can be designed on the basis of objectives in which
different tables and graphs designed that easily conveyed the information to the readers.
However, in the present article, transcript is pasted which might confuse readers or deviate from
the actual answer. Therefore, such chances are not possible if the research might opt
questionnaire as a method of primary research. Beside this, it is also examined that researcher
highlighted that government policy action is lacking in relation to reduction overconsumption of
sugary drinks, but does not highlight the ways through which the challenge may overcome. If
this is also performed then it will provide valid results and government also make action
accordingly.
The overall research findings are based upon generalizability however responses were
varied and attained saturation. Along with this, the participants are also recruited from market
research database and to improve the same, researcher may use random sampling method in
which samples can selected from large population. This in turn assists to generate the valid
outcomes in effective manner and also lead the research towards accurate direction as well.
Through the above, it has been summarized that the article provide key findings relation
to perception of Australian people towards sugary drinks and the intervention of government

action as well. Nevertheless, the findings reflected that government policy action does not
effectively make action to limit the consumption rate and that is why, there is a need to make
effective action accordingly.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Goertzen, M.J., 2017. Introduction to quantitative research and data. Library Technology
Reports. 53(4). pp.12-18.
Miller, C. and et.al., 2020. Qualitative insights into Australian consumers' views for and against
government action on sugary drinks. Public Health Research and Practice.
Queirós, A., Faria, D. and Almeida, F., 2017. Strengths and limitations of qualitative and
quantitative research methods. European Journal of Education Studies.
Zyphur, M.J. and Pierides, D.C., 2017. Is quantitative research ethical? Tools for ethically
practicing, evaluating, and using quantitative research. Journal of Business Ethics. 143(1).
pp.1-16.