Nutrition and Behavior

Book excerpt: After the appearance of the four-book series Human Nutrition: A Compre hensive Treatise, it became apparent to the editors that an important area of nutrition had been overlooked, namely, behavioral aspects of nutrition. There are two areas in which nutrition and behavior interact. On the one hand, mal nutrition may play a major role in determining behavior; alternatively, often aspects of behavior influence the eating habits of populations and individuals and thus affect their nutritional status. Volume 5 of this series speaks eloquently to both features of this important topic. Various aspects of the influence of behavior modification and nutrition have been explored by a number of qualified investigators. It is hoped that this volume will prove a valuable addition to the subjects covered in the other volumes. Roslyn B. Alfin-Slater David Kritchevsky Los Angeles and Philadelphia ix Contents Introduction: The Challenge of Nutrition and Environment as Determinants of Behavioral Development .................... . Janina R. Galler References ............................................. 5 Part I • Nutritional Deficiencies or Excesses Modifying Behavioral Outcome Chapter 1 Methological Requirements for Conceptually Valid Research Studies on the Behavioral Effects of Malnutrition David E. Barrett 1. Introduction ......................................... 9 2. Statistical-Conclusion Validity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . . . . 3. Internal Validity ...................................... 14 4. External Validity ..................................... 16 5. Construct Validity of Putative Causes and Effects . . . . . . . . .. . . . 19 6. Conclusions and Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 28 . . . .